Australian Daniel Ricciardo will be Red Bull's test and third driver next season, the championship-winning Formula One team have confirmed.
Ricciardo raced for Red Bull from 2014-18, after two years at sister team Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri), and returns from McLaren, where he struggled to match teammate Lando Norris.
"I'm truly excited to be coming back home to Oracle Red Bull Racing as their third driver in 2023," the eight-time race winner said. "The ability to contribute to and be surrounded by the best team in F1 is hugely appealing, whilst also giving me some time to recharge and refocus."
The move had been widely flagged before last weekend's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the team only waiting for him to sign.
Ricciardo, who was teammate to now double world champion Max Verstappen in his previous stint at Red Bull, will support the team with simulator work, testing and commercial activities.
He says he will not attend every race next season, with a record 24 rounds scheduled.
"It is great to bring Daniel back into the Red Bull family," said team boss Christian Horner. "He has enormous talent and such a brilliant character, I know the whole factory is excited to be welcoming him home."
Red Bull's 2023 race line-up remains Verstappen and Mexican Sergio Perez.
Horner insists Ricciardo was not in the frame to replace Perez.
Reuters
