What is next for Daniel Ricciardo? Sensible and wildcard options…

With McLaren officially announcing Daniel Ricciardo’s departure from the team for 2023, we assess his remaining options in F1…
Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo

Even with an F1 grand prix victory to his name, Daniel Ricciardo’s♍ two-year spell with Mc🧔Laren has been nothing short of a disaster.

Signed from Renault on big money, Ricciardo hasn🐎’t lived up to expectations, even if he was the one to end McLaren’s nine-year win drought in F1.

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Ricciardo has been destroyed by Lando Norris and ultimately was the reason why McLaren lost out to Ferrari in t𒁃he constructors’ championship๊ last year, with it being a similar story up against Alpine this season.

For both parties, Ricciardo’s premature exit is for the best. It allows McLaren to find a more able replacement, while the Australian can restart his F1 career at another team without his reputation being tarni🗹shed even more.

But where can he go?

Alpine

Alpine need a replacement for Fernando Alonso, who was announced as Sebastian Vettel’s shock replacement at Aston Martin following the Hungarian Grand Prix at the end of July - opening up 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1's driver market.

The French team wanted Oscar Piastri to fill the void 🐽left b൲y Alonso but the reigning F2 champion is set to join McLaren, leaving Alpine in a pickle.

Ricciardo enjo🍸yed two strong seasons with Alpineဣ (when they were known as Renault) in 2019 and 2020, finishing on the podium twice. 

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Renault F1 Team on the
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Renault F1 Team on the

The Australian ended 2020 as one o🧔f F1’s top performers behind Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, deservedl🅺y e.

Ric🎶ciardo’s fall fr✃om grace has been surprising given his form prior to that.

Alpine will want to ensure they have an adequate repl🧸acement for Alonso, and with Piastri not on 🔯the market, Ricciardo is the best available driver on the market.

He’s still capable of winning races last year and his struggles with McLaren have been exacerbated by ꧅Norris’ world class for𒉰m.

Alpine’s options are limited, although Mick Schumacher has been rum𓂃oured to be in talks with them.

However, Schumacher has yet to show the pace or consistency necessary to warrant a move up the grid alongsid♉e Kevin Magussen at Haas.

A return for Ricciardo would make perfect sense and a re🃏union with Esteban Ocon, who he demolished in 2020.

Haas

R🔜icciardo has been in recent contact with Haas over driving for the team next year.

According to ESPN, Riccღiardo messaged Ha♔as boss Guenther Steiner in late July at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Haas’ 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 2023 driver line-up is s🍌till incomplete with Magnussen set to stay after signing a multi-year agreement.

Mick Schumacher (GER) Haas VF-22. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest, Hungary, Race
Mick Schumacher (GER) Haas VF-22. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Hungarian Grand Prix,…

The identity of his te✃ammate is still unclear, particularly with Schumacher’s inconsistent di🦂splays in 2022.

Haas will give Antonio Giovinazzi two FP1 outings later this year to e🧸valuate the Italian, while Nico Hulkenberg is also reportedly in the frame.

Ricciardo would be a big coup fo🌄r Haas given that he is ♒one of F1’s most popular drivers with clear race-winning experience.

A less pressured environment might be able to eradicate Ricciardo’s pre-McLaren’s struggles, giving Haas a formidable paꦬi🎀ring of Magnussen-Ricciardo.

A switch to Haas would give Ricciardo no realistic chance of winnꦯing in F1 again, but as seen by Valtteri Bottas at Alfᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚa Romeo, it’s very easy to alter people’s perceptions.

Williams

The most unlikely of the remaining seats on the 2023 F1 grid is Wꦦilliams.

Alex Albon will remain with the team for next year but the second s🔯eat is still up for grabs.

Initially, Piastri was expected to drive for Williams for one year befo♓re replacing Alonso for 2024.

Nicholas Latifi (CDN) Williams Racing FW44. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest, Hungary,
Nicholas Latifi (CDN) Williams Racing FW44. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Hungarian…

T꧒his leaves Williams with limited opt🐎ions - keep the underperforming Nicholas, promote the inexperienced Logan Sargeant or try and tempt Ricciardo to join.

Realistically, iꦓt’s unlikely Ricciardo🦹 will want to join the team but it might be the only team willing to give him a seat.

Retirement

Retirement c🍎ould be a realistic option for Ricciardo, particulཧarly if he doesn’t want to spend the remainder of his F1 career in the midfield.

Ricciardo has won eight F1 races, stood on the podium over 30 times and established himself as 𓆏one of the sport’s very beꦐst drivers during his spells with Red Bull and Renault.

His dream of becoming an F1 world champion looks ꧟unlikely so it m🧔ight be time for him to try something new, a switch to IndyCar perhaps?

It would be a shame to lose a driv🏅er of Ricciardo’s calbre and personality, especially when there’s still a couple of midfield drives still on🍸 the table.

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) McLaren on the grid. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest, Hungary,
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) McLaren on the grid. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Hungarian…

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