Alpha Tauri retain unchanged line up in Tsunoda and Ricciardo for 2024
23rd September 2023Alpha Tauri has confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo have retained their seats to have an unchanged driver line-up going into 2024.
It has been an eventful season for the Red Bull sister team which is set to undergo a rebranding at the end of the season. In turn, the Faenza-based team have opted for some stability in their driver line-up for next season, retaining both Tsunoda and Ricciardo.
The team opted to announce the 2024 driver line-up at the Japanese Grand Prix, ahead of Free Practice Three, which is the home event for their driver, Tsunoda.
Their Japanese driver is ‘happy’ to announce his extension with the team for 2024 having joined the Italy-based team in 2021, growing year-on-year.
The team believed his ‘undoubtful natural talent and constant improvement paired with his ability to integrate into the team’ were the main factors in why they opted to continue with him for 2024.
On the announcement, Tsunoda said:
“I’m so happy to announce that I will be staying with Scuderia AlphaTauri for the 2024 Formula 1 season.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to fight and collaborate with the team and Daniel. Obviously, I’ll push as much as possible for the rest of the season and beyond, to progress as a driver.
“I’m grateful for Red Bull and Honda, for continuing to support and believe in me, and very happy and thankful to continue the partnership.”
After half a season out of the sport, Ricciardo was parachuted back into the race seat when Alpha Tauri decided to part ways with Nyck de Vries who underperformed in the first half of the season.
The Australian put in some steady performances in the first two races he took part in on his return to the team, at the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix, before he broke his hand at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Mixed with his personal attitude and racing experience, as an eight-time race winner – including victory at the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix, the team believes this to be ‘precious assets’ going into 2024. Ricciardo said:
“I’m stoked to be driving with Yuki again next year and continuing the journey with Scuderia AlphaTauri.
“Following the progress we have already made and the plans for the future, it’s an exciting time for the Team. We are building and it is a great feeling. There is a lot of work to do, but we are heading in the right direction and there is a lot to look forward to. Bring on 2024!”
As for Liam Lawson, who is currently occupying the injured Australian’s race seat at the team, will return to his reserve driver role for both Alpha Tauri and Red Bull having missed out on a full-time race seat at the team.
Peter Bayer, CEO of Alpha Tauri, has stated the team will continue to prepare the young Kiwi for his future in F1. He said:
“Liam put himself in the spotlight of F1 in only three races and I am very happy that we can continue to prepare him for his future.”
Outgoing Team Principal, Franz Tost, has stated the reason for the unchanged line-up was ‘logical’ to opt for continuity as the technical regulations remain unchanged for the upcoming season. In addition the team boss is hopeful Lawson will get a full-time opportunity in F1 soon enough. Tost said:
“Next year, the technical regulations remain largely unchanged, and it was therefore logical to go for continuity in our driver line-up too.
“I am very pleased with the development that Yuki has shown over the last two and a half years with our team and with Daniel’s great race-winning experience we will have one of the most competitive driver pairings on the grid in 2024.
“Peter [Bayer] and Laurent [Mekies, Alpha Tauri’s incoming Team Principal] will have a great duo to start the new season in the right direction.
“As for Liam, who has impressed everyone in his races so far, he will definitely help the team in his development role as a third driver, and I’m sure he will have a future in Formula One soon.”
Following this announcement, it means there is only one vacant seat left on the 2024 grid which is over at Williams. Logan Sargeant is yet to be announced with a contract extension with the team, so a spare seat remains vacant alongside Alexander Albon.
That’s all for the article: Alpha Tauri retain unchanged line up in Tsunoda and Ricciardo for 2024!
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
