Does Mercedes reserve driver’s exit hint at Daniel Ricciardo’s next F1 move?
Former McLaren F1 dr꧒iver Van𝐆doorne will join F2 champion Felipe Drugovich in Aston Martin’s driving roster next season, alongside his Formula E commitments with DS Penske.
The move means Mercedes have now lost both of their F1 reserve drivers, with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Nyck de Vries being signed by AlphaTauri forꩵ a full-time seat next year.
However, given Aston Martin’s customer link to Mercedes, Vando🎶orne could still theoretically be available to the Silver Arrows if required.
Nevertheless, it creates an intriguing scenario for Mercedes, who have been heavily linked with signing Ricciardo in a reserve driver role after the Australian confirmed he will not be on the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 2023 grid ollowing his McLaren departure.
Ricciardo, who has also been linked with a return to Red Bull, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结♒果历史:confirmed he was in talks with teams about his plans for next year after finishing a♎ sꩵtrong seventh at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
“I am talking to teams,” he told Sky Sports. “I still want to꧅ keep a foot in the door for 2024.
“Seeing the ligh💝ts go out for race one, I will h💯ave an itch!”
What about Hulkenberg?
The arrival of Drugovich and Vandoorne at Aston Martin also leaves question marks over the future of168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Nico Hulkenberg, who has served as Aston Martin’s reserve dri♍ver since൩ 2021.
Hulkenberg last raced full-time in F1 with Renault in 2019 but has made five substitute cameos for Racing Point and Aston Martin when their regular drivers were ruled out with COVID-19, most recently filling in for 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Sebastian Vettel in Bahrain an෴d Saudi Arabia at the start of the 2𝓀022 season.
Aston Martin have not officially communicated Hulkenberg’s exit from the team, though the wording of their press release inferred he will not be part of their plans in 2023. ༺;
“He [Vandoorne] will join Brazil’s Drugovich as a test and reserve driver - the pair dovetailing their duties across next year’ꦫs 24-race calendar,” it read.
The 35-year-old German has been linked with the sole-remaining seat at Haas and is thought to be in direct competition with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Mick Schumacher for the drive.
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for ltxcn.top around the world. Often reporting on t⛎he action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of t꧂he people who matter in the sport.
