Red Bull chief Christian Horner says a full return for Daniel Ricciardo isn’t on the cards, despite the Australian carrying out tests at Silverstone.
Ricciardo is the reserve driver at Red Bull – the manufacturer he drove for between 2014 and 2018. The 34-year-old re-joined his old team after leaving McLaren at the end of last season and is now the third driver, behind Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
He will drive the all-conquering RB19 for the first time on Tuesday as Red Bull carry out a Pirelli tyre test at Silverstone. Ricciardo is keen to use the opportunity as a springboard back to a driver’s seat for the 2024 season, but team principal Horner says that won’t happen at Red Bull.
"It's not something that we're planning, that's for certain," Horner said when asked about the possibility of Ricciardo stepping up next season. "It was right to give him the opportunity this year to remain within the team and keep him around the sport.
"I think it would have been a loss to the sport for him just to disappear and I think that I didn't recognise the Daniel of the last couple of years so I'll be very interested to see what kind of job he does on Tuesday.
"It's an important test for Pirelli but it's also going to be great to see him back in a Red Bull car and seeing where he's at - both on pace and mentally, physically and to get his feedback on this car as well.
"So I think it's a good opportunity for him to get back behind the wheel of a car that's just won the British Grand Prix."
Ricciardo won seven races in four years at Red Bull during his first stint there. He moved on to Renault in 2018 and then drove for McLaren for a year.
Although he is happy to be assisting the winning machine of Red Bull at the moment, Ricciardo wants another shot at driving next season. "I'm really enjoying this year and I think I'll continue to enjoy it, but by next year I think I'll certainly be eager to get back on the grid and compete," he told Sky Sports News in May.
"I feel like there is still some unfinished business. I'm continuing to do [the] simulator. I'm going to jump in the car in July to get back behind the wheel. I'm sure that will really stimulate me and give me all those feels back.
"Naturally I'm going to put a bit of pressure on myself for that and try to remind the team that I can still do it. We'll see where it goes. I know I'll be ready to put myself in a position to be back on the grid next year.
"I am staying in shape. I'm giving myself a bit of mental time out but I love playing sports and I love being active, so I haven't allowed myself to get too out of shape."
