WATCH: Daniel Ricciardo opens up on his emotions after receiving the call-up from Helmut Marko to join AlphaTauri

Daniel Ricciardo was full of emotions when he received the call from Helmut Marko.

WATCH: Daniel Ricciardo opens up on his emotions after receiving the call-up from Helmut Marko to join AlphaTauri

Daniel Ricciardo (image via F1), Helmut Marko (image via F1 Chronicle)

Daniel Ricciardo is back on the F1 grid once again. AlphaTauri signed the Australian driver as a replacement for Nyck de Vries earlier this week. This brings Ricciardo back into the Red Bull family after leaving Milton Keynes at the end of 2018. Now, the 34-year-old expressed his feelings after he received the phone call to join the Faenza-based team.

Ricciardo gave an exclusive interview to Formula 1 after rejoining the Red Bull sister team. The Australian driver was asked about his reaction when he saw Marko’s name on his phone. He told formula1.com, “Well, I was like ‘Okay let’s just see what he has to say.” The 34-year-old decided not to prepare himself for what the Red Bull consultant had in store.

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Daniel Ricciardo mentioned that it was an easy decision for him to take the AlphaTauri seat. The Honey Badger recalled the time he was part of the Red Bull family when he was given opportunities through such calls. He explained, “Being back in this family I feel so much. I feel like I’m going through it all again and these were the calls that you know I used to get.”

Lastly, the Australian driver made it clear that he would not say no to the offer. Ricciardo is hungry as ever to prove his worth in F1 again, and Helmut Marko’s call is the perfect opportunity. The 34-year-old stated, “There was no question that I was going to say yes.”

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Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 career comes full circle

Daniel Ricciardo for Scuderia Toro Rosso (image via EFTM.com)
Daniel Ricciardo for Scuderia Toro Rosso (image via EFTM.com)

The Australian driver spent most of his career in the Red Bull driver program. This propelled Ricciardo to an F1 seat with the now-defunct HRT midway through 2011. The 34-year-old was then signed by Scuderia Toro Rosso (now Alpha Tauri). Danny Ric spent two seasons at the Faenza-based team before being promoted to Red Bull after Mark Webber‘s retirement.

Ricciardo left Milton Keynes for Renault in 2019 and spent two seasons at the French team before joining McLaren in 2021. Unfortunately, the Australian driver struggled to match teammate Lando Norris despite taking a victory at the 2021 Italian GP. The 34-year-old was paid to sit out the 2023 season by the Woking-based team.

Now, Daniel Ricciardo returns to Faenza as an Alpha Tauri driver as his career comes full circle. The Australian driver hopes to make a mark this season and eventually get promoted again to Red Bull.

Thus, Daniel Ricciardo was filled with emotions when he got the call from Helmut Marko. Th 34-year-old did not think twice before saying yes to the offer, as the Australian driver is eager to showcase his talent at the pinnacle of motorsport once again. As such, fans would be looking forward to seeing the Honey Badger hit the track once again.

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