F1 Mexico City Grand Prix: Daniel Ricciardo on Mercedes reserve role - “my future not relative” to Lewis Hamilton’s decision
Hamilton, 37, has confirmed that he expects to extend his Mercedes deꦆal beyond the 2023 season.
Ricciardo, 33, is without a seat in the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 2023 driver line-up after being axedඣ by McLaren and his next step will be a reserve driver role with Mercedes, according to Sky.
Ham🍰ilton’s decision to race on into 2024 and beyond will not impact Ricciardo’s decision, the Australian said: “My future is not relative to what others do.
“Opportunities will arꦇise when they do. But I’m not banking on ܫanyone doing something so that I can [step in].
“I want to take the time t๊hat is necessary, keep a littl🦩e distance to the sport, to rebuild myself.
“If something makes sense in 2024 I will come back with a vengeance, have some fun, and hopefully rac﷽e at the front.”
Hamilton had previously urged Ricciardo not to accept a reserve role and to continue racing, but the McLaren driver has seen vacancies at Alpin𓃲e, Haas and Williams come and go.
A reserve role 🦄at a major team is seen as a ploy to keep Ricciardo in the mix for a high-profile return to F1 in 2024.
Ricciardo denied that he wan𝓀ts to replace Hamilton꧑: “The truth is that I want him to stay in the sport.
“He’s one of the greatest to ever do it.
“Competing with him, going wheel-to-wheel with him, is awesome. I wish to do more of that in the future𓂃. That’s where it currently lies.”
Ricciardo is currently 12th in the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 standings with 29 points compared to teammate 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lando Norris’ 109.
He em🌱otionally said “I don’t know how I am continuing” last week after a drab r🧸ace in the United States.
Now ahead of the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 Mexico City Grand Prix he reflected: “Fresh off a race, you have not debri💜efed or assessed anything.
“I🐟 knew from ๊early that it would be a struggle. I felt helpless in battle.
“It was normal to feel how I did.
“A few days removed, coming into this race, I have 🍌a spring in my step and I have another chance to get it right.”
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a🍌 decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
