AlphaTauri CEO Hints at Daniel Ricciardo Staying for 2024 Season – What’s Next for the Team?
As the 2023 season unfolds, the AlphaTauri driver lineup remains uncertain, with Daniel Ricciardo's potential decision to stay adding intrigue to the mix.
In the world of Formula 1, the tides of driver line-ups are ever-shifting, and the latest ripple in this dynamic sea comes from none other than AlphaTauri CEO Peter Bayer. It’s a well-known fact that the Australian driver, Daniel Ricciardo, stepped into the AlphaTauri cockpit, replacing Nyck de Vries after just ten races of his rookie season. However, the motorsport world was taken by surprise when, after only two races back, Ricciardo suffered a wrist injury during the second practice session of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. This unfortunate incident led to Red Bull’s reserve driver, Liam Lawson, temporarily stepping into Ricciardo’s racing boots.
As the 2023 season unfolds, another critical decision looms large for AlphaTauri. Yuki Tsunoda’s contract with the team is also set to expire at the season’s end. With two seats to fill for the 2024 season, speculation runs rife in the paddock about who will be chosen to take the helm alongside the enigmatic Ricciardo.
“My belief is that… obviously, we cannot only develop young drivers – we also have to be competitive.
“I think, to be competitive nowadays, you need… in order to fulfil both cars, you need to have one experienced driver and one young one. That’s really what I’m trying to achieve, you know, to have an experienced one and a young one.
“Because then the young one will learn more from the experienced one, the experienced one will help us and, for example, Daniel [Ricciardo] helped us tremendously on setting up the car.
“So whilst we give feedback to a young driver, the experienced one gives us feedback, and I’m convinced you need to have those two.”
The real question that hangs in the balance is whether Ricciardo will continue his journey with the AlphaTauri team. If the Australian stalwart decides to stay, it’s widely expected that Liam Lawson’s remarkable performances during his stint in the Netherlands and Italy will have cemented his position in the team for the upcoming season. The temporary replacement not only showcased his prowess but also gave AlphaTauri a taste of what the young talent can bring to the table.
With Ricciardo’s experience and Lawson’s promising potential, AlphaTauri could be poised for a thrilling driver lineup in 2024. The team’s future in Formula 1 is undoubtedly one to watch, as the pieces of this high-speed puzzle continue to fall into place.
