In the round-up: Red Bull’s new reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo talks about when he will be back in the paddock.
In brief
Ricciardo to make F1 paddock return in Australia
Ricciardo will be Red Bull’s reserve driver for the first time this year at his home race, the Australian Grand Prix, which is the third race of the season.
“I’ll be watching the first race likely on television,” said Ricciardo, who has returned to Red Bull this year after losing his race seat at McLaren. “I think that’ll start to maybe warm up a few feelings and then I’ll be in Melbourne. That’ll be the first race I attend.”
Ricciardo’s absence from the first two grands prix means Liam Lawson will likely be called up to be reserve driver for those events.
“Being around the whole atmosphere and the noise, the sound, like the smell, all of it [will have an impact],” Ricciardo added on what it will be mean to be back at the track in Melbourne.
“That’ll probably do what it does, and whether I’m stoked and excited and wanting to get back or whatever, I’m just kind of happy being a fan for a bit longer, we’ll see. But I think I think Melbourne will probably tell me quite a lot.”
Red Bull sponsorship almost sold out
World champions Red Bull are running out of sponsorship opportunities to sell, according to a report. “We have many partners and we want to ensure we’re delivering for all our partners with a high level of service and activation,” the team’ commercial director Nick Stocker told Sports Business Journal, “so it comes to a point where we actually have to say, ‘The shop is shut and we have enough partners for the team.’
“But luckily we’re not yet in that position – we have a few more to sell in the market.”
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Indy Nxt grid grows to 18 cars
Indy Nxt, the primary support series to IndyCar, has grown to 18 full-time entries for 2023 in a big shift for the category. In recent years it has struggled to reach 15 drivers doing the full season, and the 2020 season was cancelled due a combination of a lack of entries and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The latest addition to the 2023 grid is Colin Kaminsky, who comes up from the USF Pro 2000 series and will race for the Abel Motorsports team.
Former Renault sponsor joins McLaren
DP World, the title sponsor of the Renault F1 team in 2020, has partnered with McLaren this year.
The Emirati multinational logistics company will work on “reimagining” the team’s supply chain, and its branding will appear on the overalls of McLaren’s drivers and also on the livery of the new MCL60 car, which will be unveiled at the team’s Woking headquarters next Monday.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
‘The dream is not over’ says F2 driver Jehan Daruvala (Evo India)
”I have no regrets. Honestly, it will be disappointing if I don’t race in Formula 1, but it is very very difficult at this stage. But the dream is not over,’ confesses Jehan.’
IndyCar, Thermal Club keen to build upon Open Test succes (Racer)
‘In the months leading up to Spring Training, Rogers acknowledged an interest in hosting an IndyCar race at the Thermal Club. ‘We haven’t met on that yet, but it’s a logical next step,’ he said.’
Monlau begins second year in Spanish F4 with the aim of continuing to grow (Monlau Motorsport)
‘The team confirms three drivers for all of 2023: Fernando Barrichello, Pablo Sarrazin and Ricardo Gracia. They will be joined by a wild card awarded by the Spanish Federation to Eloi Gonzalez, Spanish karting champion.’
Ilott compares the Red Bull Junior Team and Ferrari Driver Academy (Formula Scout)
‘Callum Ilott has explained the operational differences between the Red Bull Junior Team and the Ferrari Driver Academy based upon his experiences with the two F1 teams.’
Douglas Motorsport team with Shawn Rashid for 2023 GB3 (GB3)
‘The 26-year-old will make his slicks and wings debut with the team this year, having only started his single-seater career in 2022 with a brilliant campaign in the Avon Tyres National Formula Ford Championship with Team Ammonite.’
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Bullfrog and Akshay!