Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda confirmed for AlphaTauri in 2024 F1 season

Former Red Bull and McLaren driver Ricciardo returned to Formula One in July, replacing the axed Nyck de Vries in the second AlphaTauri, but suffered a broken hand in a heavy crash in just his second race back during practice at Zandvoort.

That presented an opportunity to New Zealander Liam Lawson, who impressed hugely in the rain in Zandvoort before picking up two points for the team last time out in Singapore.

But the 21-year-old has not done enough to earn a drive with the Red Bull sister team next season and will instead reprise his role as reserve driver.

"I'm stoked to be driving with Yuki again next year and continuing the journey with Scuderia AlphaTauri," Ricciardo, 34, said.

"Following the progress we have already made and the plans for the future, it's an exciting time for the team.

"We are building and it is a great feeling. There is a lot of work to do, but we are heading in the right direction and there is a lot to look forward to. Bring on 2024!"

Lawson's future in Formula One was the subject of great interest ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, where he continues to deputise for Ricciardo while he recovers from surgery.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner did not rule out the possibility of loaning Lawson to another team, with American Logan Sargeant's place at Williams rumoured to be under threat.

"He (Lawson) is a gritty racer, we knew that about him and I think he has grabbed the opportunity in Formula One that drivers very seldom get to demonstrate their talent," Horner said on Friday ahead of AlphaTauri's announcement.

"I think he's done a tremendous job and certainly has put himself firmly on the radar and cemented the feeling that we had about him.

"He will be a Grand Prix driver, he already is, at some stage. Whether he has to wait a little for that or not he is demonstrating that he is a talent for the future.

"He is in the Red Bull family. If there was a seat, we have done that in the past when Carlos Sainz went on loan to the previous Renault team.

"If he is not sitting in a Grand Prix car next year then he will have plenty on his plate with other stuff to do."

Tsunoda joked on Thursday that the team needed three seats next season, such was the battle to secure a drive between the three drivers.

The 23-year-old made his Formula One debut with the team at the start of the 2021 season and achieved his best finish of fourth place in the final race of that campaign.

In a difficult season for AlphaTauri, Tsunoda has picked up just three points and sits 17th in the standings ahead of his home race at Suzuka.

 

Read More: Red Bull's Max Verstappen grabs Japanese Grand Prix pole ahead of Oscar Piastri (planetsport.com)