F1’s hibernation isn’t quite over just yet, but there were still plenty of F1 news headlines made on Tuesday
Peter Bayer, now the CEO of AlphaTauri, has stated that Red Bull initially held up Daniel Ricciardo’s return to the F1 grid because they intended to keep the Australian as a reserve.
With that, Eddie Jordan’s desire for Alex Albon to be given another shot, and Alain Prost’s candid statement, let’s get started with Tuesday’s F1 news headlines…
Red Bull initially held up Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 return
Daniel Ricciardo’s return to the F1 grid with AlphaTauri was initially met with resistance from Red Bull, as they were intent on retaining him as their reserve driver for 2023. AlphaTauri CEO Peter Bayer disclosed in an interview with Motorsport-Magazin that the initial stance was a firm “No” to Ricciardo changing roles. However, persistent inquiries over a month led to a shift in the decision.
Bayer explained that the turning point occurred when Red Bull’s Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko became involved in the discussions. Initially resistant, Horner eventually approached AlphaTauri with the proposition of Ricciardo participating in a test at Silverstone, and Marko supported the idea. This collaboration between the key figures at Red Bull ultimately paved the way for Ricciardo’s return to the F1 grid with AlphaTauri.
Should Alex Albon be given a second crack at Red Bull?
Eddie Jordan is intrigued by the prospect of Alex Albon getting another opportunity alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull. Despite struggling alongside Verstappen in 2020, Albon faced some unfortunate incidents that impacted potentially season-defining results. Having built a commendable reputation at Williams, the British-Thai racer has caught Jordan’s attention, leading the former F1 team boss to believe that, given the right circumstances, Albon could significantly improve in his second stint with Red Bull.
Expressing his sentiments on the Formula For Success podcast, Jordan shared his fondness for Albon and expressed optimism about the driver’s potential. Jordan stated, “I have a real soft spot for Albon. I just think that given the right situations, I think he could really, really be outstanding. I would like to see, at some stage, that he be given the chance alongside Max [Verstappen], because I think he might be a big surprise.”
Is Audi eying up a dark horse candidate for 2026 seat?
As Audi prepares to enter Formula 1 in 2026, speculation about potential drivers for the team has been circulating. While Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, the current drivers for Sauber/Stake (the team that will become Audi), have expressed their interest in being considered, rumors have also linked Carlos Sainz from Ferrari and Nico Hulkenberg from Haas to Audi.
A new addition to the list is Esteban Ocon from Alpine, according to F1 journalist Lawrence Baretto. Baretto suggested that Sauber/Stake, which is set to transform into Audi, has placed Ocon high on their list of potential drivers for the 2026 season. Despite Alpine’s interest in retaining Ocon for another season, Sauber/Stake is reportedly considering him for their future plans.
Baretto added, “He is one of a number of drivers CEO Andreas Seidl is believed to be assessing as he looks to morph the team first into a serial midfield contender and then an operation that can fight for podiums, wins and ultimately championships.” The situation remains fluid, and the final decision on Audi’s 2026 driver lineup is yet to be confirmed.
Helmut Marko pressure led to ‘heated moments’ between Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat
As part of the Red Bull junior programme, Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat found themselves in a competitive and high-pressure environment, vying for a chance to make it to Formula 1. Despite being generally friendly, the intensity of the competition, fueled by Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko’s expectations, led to moments of tension between the two drivers.
Kvyat revealed that they often traveled together and had on-track encounters, prompting their fathers to intervene at times, urging them to calm down. The pressure escalated to the point where Helmut Marko personally communicated with Kvyat about the need for improvement, stating that if he didn’t perform better in the next race, the partnership with Red Bull might come to an end.
Kvyat explained, “Especially at the beginning, it was tough, and I got a call from Helmut. He was like, ‘You know what, if you don’t improve next race, I think we’re done here.’ During the GP3 season, Helmut told us, ‘OK, an F1 seat is on the table, so whoever does best will probably get it,’ and that’s when it started to be very serious.” The competitive atmosphere within the Red Bull junior programme created a challenging but ultimately decisive environment for both Sainz and Kvyat.
Alain Prost denies Ayrton Senna veto contract clause
Alain Prost has disclosed that he never requested Williams to include a contract clause in his 1993 deal to ensure he wouldn’t end up as teammates with Ayrton Senna again. Despite their notorious rivalry, both drivers wanted to join the dominant Williams team for the 1993 season, and Prost secured the seat. When a vacancy remained, it was filled by Damon Hill, not Senna. Prost clarified that he had no involvement in the inclusion of the clause in his contract.
“The discussion was very clear, and it said the only one I do not want as a teammate is Ayrton. You understand why,” Prost explained. “I even do not remember if it was not Frank [Williams] who proposed that because he knew that it wouldn’t be possible. I had no idea about my teammate, and I was sure that it would be Nigel [Mansell] at the time.”
Prost continued, “I did not know that it would be Damon [Hill]. That was January or February. I had no problem with that. I could not understand; I couldn’t believe they would change two drivers together at the team.” Prost’s preference and the subsequent choice of Damon Hill as his teammate in 1993 contributed to the continued separation of Prost and Senna on the same team.
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