Daniel Ricciardo will pilot a Red Bull Formula 1 car on the legendary Nordschleife circuit later this year as part of his duties as the team’s 2023 reserve driver.
He’ll drive demonstration laps in a Red Bull showcar as part of the first official F1 demo laps at the circuit since 2013 when Michael Schumacher demoed Mercedes’ 2011 W02 on the longer version of the Nurburgring track which acted as the venue for F1’s original German Grand Prix between 1951 and 1976.
Schumacher completed his demo laps – his final official miles in an F1 car before his skiing accident a few months later – as part of the 24 Hours of Nurburgring weekend, six years on from Nick Heidfeld driving BMW Sauber’s 2006 F1 car and marking the first contemporary F1 run at the circuit since the final Nordschleife F1 race in 1976 when Niki Lauda suffered his infamous fiery crash.
Ricciardo will complete his demonstration laps on September 9 alongside “legendary greats of motorsport on two and four wheels” and “young racing talents”, the identities of which are yet to be revealed.
It’s part of the Red Bull Formula Nurburgring festival that will take place alongside the 12h Nurburgring – the blue ribband event of the Nurburgring Endurance Series.
It adds to Ricciardo’s 2023 programme which so far includes attendance at a handful of grands prix as Red Bull’s reserve driver as well as a potential appearance at a tyre test this year.
He’s as yet undecided whether or not he’ll chase a return to racing in F1 in 2024 and it’s unclear what his likely options would be.
