Daniel Ricciardo has revealed that he will drive Red Bull's 2023 title challenger in a Pirelli tyre test at Silverstone following the British Grand Prix.

To date, the Australian's testing duties with the team he returned to in November, having been dropped by McLaren, have been restricted to the simulator, but in July he will get to try the car that has won all five Grands Prix thus far this season, for real.

"I've been in the simulator, but I will drive the RB19 in July after the Silverstone race, I'm getting a Pirelli test," he tells ESPN.

"Then maybe I'll get another one after Monza as well in September," he adds. "A couple of months away and I'll get to feel what it's like.

"I'm certainly excited to drive a fast car, but also a car that maybe still feels familiar for me, it does a little bit in the sim. I'm just excited to drive again and to just try to remind a team obviously I once had a lot of success with that I can still turn a fast lap."

Other than his simulator work, Ricciardo, who remains fiercely popular with fans as a result of his high profile in Drive to Survive, has been involved in promotional work, and while his true commitment to returning to the grid in 2024 appears in doubt, some fans admitting disappointment at his decision to attend the recent Met Gala, an event he has previously mocked, he insists that he is as committed as ever.

"I'm definitely still in like a really good place, I'm very happy with this," he says of his current role. "Does it mean that I'm happy doing this for the next two or three years? Probably not. But I think for this year it's certainly a good thing for me.

"Right now, I want to get back on the grid next year," he insists. "I do feel like there's certainly some unfinished business. I'm staying like in the loop and staying prepared and whatever.

"I'm also ticking a few boxes that if I do get back on the grid next year, and I'm on the grid for the next, whatever, five years, for example, maybe there's things that I won't get a chance to do. I want to tick some boxes for myself for like some self-fulfilment.

"The New York marathon got mentioned," he admits. "I had a few friends run it last year and I was like, 'That looks pretty cool'. There's these sort of things that I'm thinking about and obviously in a regular season I wouldn't get the chance to do, so I kind of want to put myself out there and do some things like that this year."

While he might currently be reduced to watching from the sidelines, at least he has the consolation of not being blamed for McLaren's ongoing disaster.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 16/05/2023 3:40

"@Bill Hopgood...thanks for the response. Seems as though I'm not alone. Regarding the greater issue of the McLaren car it's gratifying to read comments from Stella acknowledging the facts that the Mc Laren car has inbuilt faults/characteristics that hinder the driving styles needed to get the absolute maximum performance. By the time it's sorted [possibly ] this year will be long gone and '24 would be the earliest if not then '25! Lot's of things can happen over that period so ATM I am writing McLaren off as a contender, even for top five...any time soon. Pity for Piastri but he'll at least be learning a lot for when he gets a tap on the shoulder from a top team.

As for the Kias, well I have the 'sport plus' and it's quite nippy around the Gold Coast. Remarkably well appointed with loads of leather etc etc etc. Would still prefer my TT's though. "

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2. Posted by BillH, 14/05/2023 18:32

"@Kenji, welcome to great value reliable (compared to European) cars.
I too drive Kia, one for work and one sometimes at home and the work one, Picanto, it built for Europe yet right hand drive and has the indicators as you have mentioned, on the left, yet the Kia Sportage is like Cerrato, indicators on the right, where they should be as per my aged Nissan Primera and our the car our learner driver uses, Suzuki Swift.
I digress, and agree with your synopsis except that Sainz did about as good as Ricciardo at McLaren and also Sainz managed to make the switch to Ferrari better than Ricciardo did to McLaren.
Now we could say that was down to Ferrari making a better car to McLaren (I think that is the case) however these drivers are supposed to be the best of the best and McLaren would have all the data that we don't see and would be able to tell what was going on.
The McLaren car of 20-22 and 23 is no-where near where it should be compared to the top or even middle of the grid however these drivers are compared to their team mates first and then the rest. At McLaren, Norris beat Ricciardo even though Ricciardo had much more experience and is an excellent driver and had also made the switch from Red Bull to Renault.
McLaren would have hired Ricciardo to help them move up the grid because their car wasn't the best, using the driver's experience to help develop the car to some degree.
I do see what you mean in regard to the McLaren cars in that if the area that Ricciardo excelled at compared to most other drivers (super overtakes under braking) was difficult compared to Red Bull and Renault due to the McLaren characteristics however over a year or two, the driver has to adapt if the team can't fix that issue. The driver has to "drive around" the issue to work around the car's weakness to some degree.
The engineers have to try to help the driver in that regard too.
In the end, Ricciardo lost confidence and that is damn hard to regain when the car isn't doing what he expected and his team mate is having a better time of it.
I will mess up the indicators / wipers this week despite driving these different cars however I don't have a simulator to use before I go to work in order to practise before getting in the actual car. "

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3. Posted by kenji, 13/05/2023 3:21

"@Bill Hopgood...I think one needs to delve deep into just what happened to DR at McLaren. The reason he was hired in the first place was the fact that he was uber fast and had a great record in F1. Over the last ten years or so Ricciardo refined his natural successful driving style and when he was delivered a car that would not allow him to flourish, as per his natural style, he was forced to adapt as the DNA of McLaren was'baked in' and they, McLaren were not about to virtually customise the car to suit more the Ricciardo style. Norris by comparison has bascically built his total expertise driving this one McLaren' style car and therefore he looked better that DR, he also racked up more points.

The effect of all this was to exhaust all the Ricciardo attempts to change....which is a partially true.. I think that most people see Ricciardo as failing the test and it certainly looks that way if you remain on the surface without digging deeper. I would offer up a very minor comparison. 15 months ago I relinquished my Audi after having driven German cars for 50 years and bought a smaller Korean Kia Cerato town car. I have never actally owned an Asian built/designed car before and they arrange for the indicator stalks to be situated on the right of the steering column on a right hand drive vehicle, exactly opposite to European cars. In any quick decision to use the indicators I automatically turn on the windscreen wipers!!!! It's totally instinctive. Sainz comments on the actual car would indicate that the car was very difficult ...... but only after he'd taken the Ferrari drive! "

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4. Posted by BillH, 13/05/2023 0:53

"The problem last year for Ricciardo wasn't just the McLaren wasn't good it was that Ricciardo got beaten by Norris in the same kit.
Then again if I was in Ricciardo's shoe(y) this season at McLaren then I'd probably fire myself going by how rubbish McLaren are doing.
Hopefully Ricciardo does get back onto the F1 grid next year and has a chance to show what he is capable of.
"

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5. Posted by LiamIII, 12/05/2023 16:21

"All,

True, true. I am very thankful Pitpass exists and provides such a great forum. I look forward to caching up with you all as time permits. Cheers mates-- from the US. :)"

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6. Posted by kenji, 12/05/2023 11:53

"@ Max....You are too kind mon ami. However ,gratefully accepted. Pitpass is likely my last port of 'F1 call' as there are no others that maintain the standard, consistently. Over the last ten plus years I have been banned from no less than three sites! Mostly as a result of airing my 'contrarian' views against rabid partisan tribal policies that thrive off derogatory non debatable issues. As for Ed.'s mention of the "Report this comment' I am quite staggered. It's a tab that I've never felt likely to ever use, but I do see the necessity for it. An anonymous collection regularly posted with a 'guess who said what' competition would be fun to play!!!"

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7. Posted by Editor, 12/05/2023 8:02

"Brightcorgi was merely expressing their personal opinion, which is everyone's right... though not if Klaus and WEF have their way.

It wasn't a "negative review" merely someone voicing a different opinion.

Personally, re Ricciardo, I'm on the fence as I have serious doubts about his true commitment.

Anyway, what sort of world would it be if we all agreed on everything?

If I strongly agree with a comment I will say so, though I have been known to click the occasional negative.

Funny enough, it is the "comment reported" messages I receive that get me, whereby readers complain over all sorts of things - including usernames - though sadly our system doesn't identify the complainant... so sometimes I have to guess."

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8. Posted by Max Noble, 12/05/2023 7:57

"@Kenji - my thanks for the positive comments on PitPass! - Esteemed Editor Balfe does an excellent job, and we are all happy when the readers are happy (…regardless of their up/down voting tendencies…!)… I up-voted you comment :-)

"

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9. Posted by kenji, 12/05/2023 6:47

"@Liam111...Upvote/down vote...it's all [ possibility ] in good spirit as Max highlighted. As the collector of a vast number of 'downvotes' over time it doesn't worry me one bit. Easy come easy go...any way the wind blows. What raises my hackles are the 'ad hominem' attacks. This site is rather unique insofar as the Ed. and his team do a masterly job of elininating the foul and offensive, seen all too often on lesser sites. Just be thankful that Pitpass exists."

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10. Posted by Max Noble, 12/05/2023 4:03

"@Liamlll - quite so! …and by the same measure people are free to down-vote, up-vote, or do nothing. Personally I only up-vote or do nothing… The (at the time I’m typing this) two down votes for @BrightonCorgi are simply signalling they do not agree… It’s when people write rude/offensive reply posts that I get upset.

Respectfully disagreeing is what it’s all about. :-)
"

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11. Posted by LiamIII, 11/05/2023 18:50

"Boo @ whomever gave a negative review of BrightonCorgi comment. Noting he said was harsh or mean, just his opinion. Go ahead and give me a negative review to prove my point too. We are here to give our opinions whether you agree or not. Don't censor free speech like the rest of the internet, oops, too late. "

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12. Posted by Motorsport-fan, 11/05/2023 18:10

"Apparently the Honey Badger has had a seat fitting at Alpha Tauri, perhaps that is the option for 2024?"

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13. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 11/05/2023 15:35

"I think his days as a starter in F1 are over. He's too expensive with a new crop of young blood waiting in the wings. Was too inconsistent to warrant a big deal on this point. As popular as he is."

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14. Posted by Greg, 11/05/2023 13:28

"Full agree. His face and driving style is missed on the grid. I would be very pleased to see him back with a decent team"

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15. Posted by kenji, 11/05/2023 12:09

"@ Max Noble...I second that. I still find it strange that he's not lining up on the grid! The longer this season runs the more I am certain that most of Daniel's problems were associated with the McLaren he was driving. I just hope ythat a decent team can make him an offer."

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Ricciardo to drive the RB19 at Silverstone

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