Marko: Ricciardo will be our third driver

The Australian is out of a Formula 1 drive in 2023 after McLaren decided to cut his contract short and replace him by Oscar Piastri in 2023 after he failed to deliver the performances expected from him.

Ricciardo could not find another full-time race seat, but seems set to be going back "Home" to Red Bull, if what Helmut Marko told Sky Sports Germany is confirmed.

"Ricciardo will be our third driver," Marko told Sky Germany. "We have so many sponsors, we have to do show runs and the like, so of course he's one of the most high-profile and best-suited."

Ricciardo was rumored to also being in talks with Mercedes over a reserve role, but it seems the return to Red Bull is the option that materialized.

The Australian started his F1 career with HRT in 2011 where he raced for 11 grands prix after Red Bull placed him there to get up to speed in F1.

He moved to Toro Rosso in 2012 and remained their until 2013, after which he was promoted to join Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull after compatriot Mark Webber retired.

Ricciardo did well to beat Vettel in their first season together, and went on to race for Red Bull until the end of the 2018 season after which he switched to Renault in 2019.

He remained with Renault for two seasons before switching again to McLaren, the team he is leaving at the end of this season.

Ricciardo won eight races in F1, seven of them with Red Bull, the final with McLaren at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.