Daniel Ricciardo is returning to Formula 1 to race from Scuderia AlphaTauri for the remainder of its season after he was placed on loan by Red Bull Racing. Riccardo is replacing Nyck de Vries after he was slated to participate in alternate F1 broadcasts on ESPN with Will Arnett tilted The Grandstand. Those broadcasts will now have to change, as Ricciardo is suiting up behind the wheel on the racetrack again.
Riccardo previously appeared on the alternate broadcast from the Canadian Grand Prix on June 18, the first time it was aired on ESPN. For the remaining two broadcasts – occurring on Oct. 22 in Austin, Texas and on Nov. 18 from Las Vegas, Nev. – he will presumably be among the competitors behind the wheel. ESPN has not yet divulged who will be taking his place on the alternate broadcast.
“Congratulations to Daniel,” ESPN said in a statement provided to Barrett Sports Media. “We heard this news today when everyone else did. We have more than three months until the next edition of The Grandstand at the United States Grand Prix in Austin so we’ll take our time and figure out the next steps.”
Throughout the ongoing season, Formula 1 is continuing to post gains in viewership as it narrows the gap with NASCAR, long the preeminent racing organization in the United States. Last season, ESPN reported record viewership for the property, culminating in its most-watched championship season of all time.
An average of 1.21 million viewers were tuning in to the races across The Walt Disney Company’s platforms, including ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, 28% higher than the year prior. Demographics watching the races also became more diverse, with more female and younger viewers keeping the action in their purview than ever before. The “Worldwide Leader” inked a contract extension with Formula 1 last year for a reported $85 million annually.
The 34-year-old Australian began test driving for Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso and ultimately made his F1 debut with the HRT racing team in 2011. One year later, he was driving on a full-time basis for Toro Rosso and then for the Red Bull team until 2018. Following stints with other teams, he signed a reserve driver deal to return to Red Bull and now has a regular slot on the team once again.
