After twelve years as a regular driver, Daniel Ricciardo is “only” active as a test and reserve driver in Formula 1 for the first time this season. After leaving McLaren, he found a new home at Red Bull. There he recently licked blood and is thinking of a comeback as a permanent driver in the coming year. However, the Australian has specific expectations and conditions for a return.
Because his two years at McLaren didn’t go according to plan at all, Daniel Ricciardo has become cautious. Because of the “relentless” stress, he missed seeing the big picture, he told Fox Sports.
“Now when I look back over the last two years at McLaren, I’m like, ‘Okay, yeah, I see why that didn’t work’, ‘I would have done it better or differently or left those things out or added that,'” he said he about his new and unusual outside perspective. However, this now enables completely new analysis possibilities.
“So I’m in a position now, just a few months into last season, where if I go back to racing next year I already have things in mind that I want to do differently and that’s quite cool. I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I’d still been in the racing car,” said the 33-year-old happily.
Ricciardo wants to use his virtual break from racing stress, which he spends as a substitute behind Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez at Red Bull, to gain knowledge. “I want to know what I want, but I also want to know what I don’t want,” he said, revealing he’s come a long way in his thought process.
“I don’t want to start from scratch again. I don’t want to be on the grid just to be there and fight for 18th place. So I don’t want to be on the grid at all costs,” emphasized the F1 star, whose ambitions are high are.
“I know that it’s more difficult to go straight into a top team in terms of availability. But I know that I want to be right there,” explained Ricciardo and immediately gave the reason: “I know that in such situations thrive when the stakes are higher.”
Ricciardo is “hungry” for the top of Formula 1
He still has “the hunger and the motivation to drive at the top,” added the 33-year-old. “I know that probably makes it a little more difficult, but that’s the goal I’m pursuing.”
It is questionable whether Ricciardo will be able to join a top team next year. As of now, only one cockpit is free at Mercedes, because Lewis Hamilton’s contract expires after the 2023 season. However, the Silver Arrows are trying to bind the record world champion in the longer term.
Seats at Ferrari are taken (Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are each tied until the end of 2024) and the up-and-coming Aston Martin squad is also well-stocked with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, the team owner’s son.
Theoretically, there could still be an opportunity with his current employer Red Bull, where there are always rumors that the chemistry between Verstappen and Pérez is not right. However, the Mexican is also tied until 2024 and is currently on track with second place in the World Cup standings.