Ricciardo returns for Crimson Bull at Silverstone check however crew ‘not planning’ full-time seat

Daniel Ricciardo has returned to the cockpit of a present Crimson Bull Formulation 1 automotive for the primary time since he left the crew 5 years in the past.

The nine-times grand prix winner, who scored all bar certainly one of his F1 victories for the crew, is driving for them in a Pirelli tyre check at Silverstone at present.

Ricciardo was a product of Crimson Bull’s Junior Group and raced for Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri) earlier than his promotion to the senior crew in 2014. After leaving them he spent two years at Renault and an additional two at McLaren.

His return to Crimson Bull as a reserve and check driver this 12 months happened after McLaren minimize brief his three-year deal to drive for them following two largely disappointing seasons. Ricciardo’s first run within the crew’s dominant RB19 will complement his ongoing work within the crew’s simulator.

Crimson Bull crew principal Christian Horner is eager to guage his former driver’s efficiency following his return.

“It’s an vital check for Pirelli however it’s additionally going to be nice to see him again in a Crimson Bull automotive and seeing the place he’s at each on tempo and mentally, bodily and to get his suggestions on this automotive as properly. It’s a superb alternative for him to get again behind the wheel of a automotive that’s simply received the British Grand Prix.”

Whereas Max Verstappen is having fun with a dominant run within the crew’s RB19 and has received the final six races in a row, crew mate Sergio Perez is enduring a poor run. He hasn’t certified inside the highest 10 for any of the final 5 grands prix.

Perez is contracted to drive for the crew till the top of subsequent 12 months and Horner dismissed hypothesis Ricciardo is being lined up for a full-time drive.

“It’s not one thing that we’re planning, that’s for sure,” he mentioned. “It was proper to present him the chance this 12 months to stay inside the crew and preserve him across the sport, I feel it could have been a loss to the game for him simply to vanish. I didn’t recognise the Daniel of the final couple of years. So I’ll be very to see what sort of job he does on Tuesday.”

Nico Hulkenberg can be partincipating within the Pirelli tyre check. The Haas driver completed thirteenth in final weekend’s British GP.

Photos: Crimson Bull’s Pirelli check with Ricciardo