- Daniel Ricciardo says he won’t drive for a bottom-struggling team
- McLaren sacked him at the end of the 2022 season
- He could drive for Haas in the 2024 season
After an unceremonious sack by McLaren shortly after the 2022 F1 season, Daniel Ricciardo says he won’t drive for a bottom-struggling team.
He says that this should not be construed to mean that he is proud but he has made his decision ready for 2024.
After a dismal two-year run at McLaren Ricciardo decided to take a one-year break. He is currently with Red Bull as a reserve driver, and he is still optimistic that he will be back on the grid in the 2024 season.
Ricciardo says that he doesn’t care about any F1 driver seat where he will have to start from the bottom. His focus is getting to the top with a great team.
The ex-McLaren driver maintains that his choice is not out of pride but rather out of a desire to succeed. He opines that starting from the bottom doesn’t inspire him to achieve his desired goals in Formula One.
“I knew this was going to be a risk obviously removing myself from a seat. But I think it’s clear what I don’t want. I don’t want [just] any seat next year… I don’t want to just start from zero, and kind of build my [F1] career from scratch,” he told Daily Mail Sports.
Daniel Ricciardo. Photo/Fox Sport
He further explained that “It’s not coming from an arrogant place. But I’m just past that. I don’t think that’s going to stimulate me or give me that second wind I’m looking for. So it makes the top seats even scarcer. But that’s where I know I will be able to perform at my best and thrive.”
Ricciardo acquired a number of negative habits while racing for McLaren, according to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, suggesting that he was overcompensating for a subpar vehicle.
Red Bull is rallying behind him in supporting him rebuild his motorsport career after sinking to career lows under McLaren’s Zak Brown.
Talking of his return to Red Bull albeit as a reserve driver, Ricciardo said he felt excited about it all especially because the staff welcomed him heartily.
Ricciardo wasn’t anticipating that everyone he once worked with at Red Bull would be excited about his return.
Daniel Ricciardo keeps options open ahead of key season. PHOTO: Sport Onet
He recalls having the most enjoyable simulator driving experience on his first day back at Red Bull. It is the most boring part of F1 but he enjoyed it.
Simon who was a Red Bull engineer back in 2018 is now leading the simulation and it feels like old times.
F1 team Haas, led by e team principal Guenther Steiner is one of the teams that the Aussie could drive for.
Stenier met Ricciardo before the Formula 1 paddock arrived Down Under and had a discussion about it but did not touch on contract negotiations for 2024.
The best choice, in Ricciardo’s opinion, was to forgo competing in the 2023 Formula One season.
Despite rumours that he was connected to a place at Haas for the 2023 Formula One season, Ricciardo chose to take the reserve driver post with Red Bull and is a year away from the sport.
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