The Honey Badger is back

Formula One is fast becoming a sport for comeback kings. First it was Nico Hulkenberg, and now another familiar face (or smile?) is back in the grid for next week's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo is making his return to Formula One racing with Scuderia AlphaTauri. The man they call the “Honey Badger” is replacing Nyck de Vries with immediate effect. It's not a one-off drive either, as Ricciardo is set to contest the remaining rounds of the 2023 season.

Daniel Ricciardo replacing Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri image

It's been a difficult season for Alpha Tauri, as they are currently in the bottom of the constructors' standings. The same can be said for Dutch driver Nyck de Vries. Despite impressing in a one-off drive for Williams at Monza last year, de Vries has failed to score points this season. Adding insult to injury, he has also been involved in a couple of incidents and crashes.

Those prompted the Red Bull management to replace de Vries with Ricciardo, who has been serving as Red Bull Racing's third driver after losing his seat at McLaren last season.

Ricciardo previously drove for AlphaTauri back when it was known as Scuderia Toro Rosso, spending two seasons in 2012 and 2013 before his promotion to the senior Red Bull team in 2014.

The Honey Badger will be returning to the venue where he scored the second of his 8 F1 victories when he won the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix.

daniel ricciardo formula 1 red bull racing scuderia alpha tauri