The moment Ricciardo realised his F1 dream was alive

One lap. That's all it took for Daniel Ricciardo to know he still had the makings of an F1 driver.

A tyre test at Silverstone mid-way through the 2023 season all but assured a return for the Perth pilot.

When he set a lap time within a few milliseconds of three-time world champion Max Verstappen's pole position effort at the same circuit, calls were quickly made and Nyck De Vries was deposed.

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Even before the test was over, the Dutch driver had been let go and work was underway for Ricciardo to take his place at AlphaTauri.

"I'm not going to sugar-coat it – the first timed lap I did was on the money," said Ricciardo speaking on F1's podcast Beyond The Grid.

"You take the fuel out to put it to quality fuel, and it was a few hundredths off Max's pole time.

"When I crossed the line and saw that lap time and had that relief again — like, 'Man, I've still got this'."

Ricciardo has always been something of a favourite child within the Red Bull ranks.

Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, has always taken a liking to the 34-year-old who first raced for Red Bull surrogate team Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri) in 2012.

"Christian was there (at the test). He was really good," Ricciardo recalled.

"Coming into the day he was just like, 'Look, mate. Obviously, we're going to be looking at you and obviously seeing how you perform, but I just want to see you having fun again. I really felt like you were missing that. We all know what you can do when you're enjoying it and at your best. I just want to see that smile on your face'. He certainly saw that.

"There's so much about being back in the Red Bull family this year that's felt good and right. I think (the contract) was such a big thing. It showed they have a lot of faith in me," Ricciardo added.

"For them to do that, I think it was very much like, 'He's our kid and we're going to support him because we believe in him'. So that was really nice."

Ricciardo's return to the Red Bull stable in earnest was short-lived. 

Ricciardo's pace in the AT04 was pedestrian at best to begin, finishing 13th in Hungary and then 16th in Belgium.

Then, in the Netherlands, he crashed out during practice and broke his hand.

Ricciardo sat out the next five grands prix before returning in the United States.

Seventh a week later in Mexico affirmed he had his mojo back.

That would be his sole points-scoring finish in the uncompetitive AlphaTauri. Nevertheless, it was reason to smile.

"I'm excited for next year," said Ricciardo.

"I think it's really going to be a change. I think just the whole mentality of the team — it's no longer just a junior team. I think it's definitely going to be more than that.

"Even the last part of this season. We were 10th in the championship fighting for seventh. 

"It kind of turned around really quickly, so I think the team also can recognise that we can be more than what we've shown, and I think that's really exciting.

"I'm excited for what lies ahead. Hungry, motivated, happy, determined — everything I need to feel."

Ricciardo remains a contender to join Red Bull in place of Sergio Perez.

Despite assurances that Perez will see out the 2024 season, rumours persist that the Mexican driver is on thin ice.

Ricciardo could conceivably switch teams midway through next year. At the very least, promotion to Red Bull in 2025 seems a sure thing.

In any case, the Australian is eager to see out his career with that team should the opportunity be forthcoming.

"I'm not even going to put a day or date on it or year whatever," he said. 

"Coming back into it and jumping back in with the Red Bull family, doing the test in July, all these things, getting back working with Simon (Rennie, race engineer) again, that's really the dream.

"Honestly, to end my career as a Red Bull driver would be perfect. And I say end… not that I'm looking at the end, but if I got back there, then I'd certainly make sure I finish there."