Ricciardo could be set for rude awakening from F1 return dream

F1

Daniel Ricciardo says he's getting back in the mood to race in F1 – but are there any competitive seats available?

3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull rserve driver 2023 Australian GP

Ricciardo is looking for an F1 seat from the outside

Red Bull

Author

Chris Medland

What a difference a few months make, eh? In early February I was reflecting on a chat with Daniel Ricciardo that really suggested he was happy with time away from Formula 1 and there were no guarantees he was going to return.

Having expected him to be getting itchy feet while launch season kicked off and the reality of his position on the sidelines kicked in, Ricciardo was still enjoying not having to train regularly or commit to a schedule, with his focus very much on outside projects and the interests that are likely to extend far beyond his racing career.

So I’ll admit, when hosting a radio show ahead of the Australian Grand Prix (on SiriusXM for those of you reading this Stateside), I jokingly questioned whether Ricciardo would be acting as the reserve driver for Red Bull in Melbourne or if it would be one of Liam Lawson, Dennis Hauger or Zane Maloney – the latter two on F2 duty at Albert Park – due to Ricciardo’s potential fitness level.

2 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull rserve driver 2023 Australian GP

On promotional – and selfie – duty in Melbourne

Red Bull

The 33-year-old hadn’t been to a race this season before his home event, and so it was tough to gauge whether he had now committed to a full training camp to be F1 race ready.

By Wednesday afternoon, it was clear that he very much had.

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Ricciardo appeared at an event with Red Bull partner Yeti – a big part of his role this year – and admitted the bug had already returned.

“The signs are pointing towards getting back on the grid,” he was quoted as saying by ESPN. “I feel like that’s where I’m tracking in my head and a few of the habits that I’m having or doing is pointing towards that. It’s only been a few months but I think some itches have been scratched, so to speak.

“I’ve actually weirdly found that the days that I’ve had no schedule are the days when I’ve actually done training, and I’ve done things like I would before.

“So I don’t know, being my own boss, writing my own schedule has actually brought out a lot of the things in me, when I thought I might just sit on the couch and watch movies all day and eat junk food, I’m just not. That’s not me. So even these things have made me realise how much I do care about it.”

Cue excitement that Ricciardo’s on the market, and Haas team principal Guenther Steiner was immediately asked during the Friday press conference if he’d consider speaking to the Australian about a 2024 seat, having shown interest in him a year ago but received a cold response.

G Steiner Haas F1 team boss

Steiner asserts there’s no room at the inn at Haas

Haas

While Steiner backed his current pairing of Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen – the former only three races into his Haas stint – he did admit that “everybody is wanting to speak with Danny after a year off”. The thing is, Danny isn’t wanting to speak with everybody.

Despite his newfound appetite for F1, or at least the reminded of how much he loves the sport, Ricciardo still insists he’s not open to any seat. He wants to be fighting for wins and podiums, and doesn’t believe a team further down the grid is an environment he can perform in.

That’s an attitude that’s surely going to have to change if Ricciardo is realistic about a return, for a number of reasons. If he wants a team where he can win then right now he’s already in it, with nobody able to properly challenge Red Bull for victories, but Sergio Perez is under contract until the end of 2024 and there’s no opening as it stands.

“To go back and try to put myself in just any seat or something that’s fighting at best for a top-10 finish, I don’t think that’s going to bring the best out of me,” Ricciardo said, admitting it’s a weakness of his as well as a strength. “So yeah, I see myself, at least in my head, wanting to go back on the grid, but there’s still some terms and conditions, so to speak.”

So then Ricciardo needs to look to the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari, where only Lewis Hamilton is out of contract at the end of this season. The seven-time world champion has made it clear he wants to stay – even amid the early struggles that have left the team scrambling to change its car – and on Sunday’s form he’s likely been reminded he’s still in the best place to challenge Red Bull from.

With no realistic opening at the traditional big three, Ricciardo can hardly expect Aston Martin to drop Lance Stroll for him, either. Especially given the way that Stroll flies under the radar but impressively close to Fernando Alonso at times. At just 24, Stroll is still a good investment in Aston’s future as well as delivering solid results now.

Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull reserve driver 2023 Australian GP

Ready for a return – but not with just any team

Red Bull

But Aston Martin can actually play a big role in Ricciardo’s hopes of returning – or more realistically the hopes of others to see Ricciardo return. The major step forward delivered this season shows that there is a clear concept direction that works, and the ability for midfield teams to join the battle at the front under the budget cap era.

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Not everyone is going to manage it, of course, but Aston has shown it’s possible with strong investment, and similar resources are more likely to be spent when there’s a known limit and a clear potential return. Just look at Ricciardo’s old team McLaren with its new wind tunnel and simulator set to come online.

Oh yeah, there’s another team we can all but rule out for a swift return, especially given the form of Oscar Piastri alongside Lando Norris.

Add in Alpine – with two French drivers under contract and having snubbed Ricciardo last year – and aside from Red Bull’s junior team he’s down to Alfa Romeo, Haas and Williams, all with at least one driver with a contract that expires at the end of this season. You see why ruling such teams out might need to change?

Given he’d be joining for 2024, Alfa Romeo could well be the perfect fit as it evolves into Audi two years later, but that would mean rejoining forces with Andreas Seidl, who was in charge at McLaren when Ricciardo was sacked.

So just as last year it could be Haas and Williams that offer Ricciardo the most likely route back onto the grid, and just as last year he’s not yet warmed to the idea. As promising as his comments sounded in Melbourne, not a huge amount has actually changed.

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