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

ꦕEven with an F1 grand prix victory to his name, Daniel Ricciardo’s two-year spell with McLaren has been nothing short of a disaster.
Signed from Renault on big money, Ricciardo hasn’t li🍌ved up to expectations, even if he was the one to end McLaren’s nine-year win drought in F1.
Ricciardo has been destroyed by Lando Norris and ultimately was the reason why McLaren lost out to Ferrari in the constructors’ championship last year, with it being a similar story upও 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 rꦇestart his F1 career at another team without his reputation being tarnished 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 Osca🌠r Piastri to fill the void left by Alonso but the reigning F2 champion is set to ❀join McLaren, leaving Alpine in a pickle.
Ricciardo enjoyed two strong seasons w𓂃ith Alpine (when they were known as Renault) in 2019 and 2020, finishing on the podium twice.

The Australian ended 2020 as one of F1’s top performers behind🧸 Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, deserve🐭dly e.
Ricciardo’s fall ꧋from grace has been surprising given his form prior to that.
Alpiඣne will want to ensure they have an adequate replacement for Alonso, and with Piastri not on the market, Ricciardo is the best available driver 💙on the market.
He’s still capable of winning r🌞aces last year and his struggles with McLaren have been exacerbated by Norris’ world class form.
Alpine’s options are limited, although Mick Schumacher has been rumoured to be in talks w🍸ith them.
However, Schumacher has yet to show the pace or consistency nece🅠ssary to warrant a move up the grid alongside Kevin Magussen at Haas.
A return for Ricciardo🐽 would make perfect sense and a r☂eunion with Esteban Ocon, who he demolished in 2020.
Haas
Ricciardo has been i💎n recent contact with Haas over driving for th𒅌e team next year.
According to ESPN, Ricciardo messaged Haas 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 still incomplete💃 with Magnussܫen set to stay after signing a multi-year agreement.

The identity of his teammate is still unclear, particularly with ♐Schumacher’s inconsistent displays in 2022.
Haas will give Antonio 🐓Giovinazzi two FP1 outings later this year to evaluate the Italian, while Nico Hulkenberg is also reportedly in the frame.
Ricciardo would be a big🍸 coup for Haas given that he is one of F1’s most popular drivers with clear race-winning experience.
A less pressured environment might be ab🌳le to eradicate Ricciardo’s pre-McLaren’s struggles, giving Haas a formidable pairing of Magnussen-Ricciardo.
A switch to Haas would give Ricciardo no realistic chan🎀ce of winning in F1 again, but as seen by Valtteri Bottas at Alfa Romeo, it’s very easy to alter people’s perce𝓀ptions.
Williams
The most unlikely ꧅of the remaining seats on the 2023 F1 grid is Williams.
Alex Albon will remain wi𝔍th the team for ne🃏xt year but the second seat is still up for grabs.
Initially, P🐭iastri was expected to drive for Williams for one year 🥀before replacing Alonso for 2024.

This leaves Williams with limited options - keep the underperforming Nicholas, promote the inexperienced Logan Sargeant or try and tempt Ricciardo 🌊to join.
Realistically, it’s unlikely Ricciardo will want to join the team but it might b💖e the only tea꧋m willing to give him a seat.
Retirement
Retirement could be a r🌸ealistic option for Ricciardo, particularly if he doesn’t want to spend the remai🌳nder of his F1 career in the midfield.
Ricciardo has won eight F1 races, stood on the podium over 30 times and established himself as one of the sport’s very best drivers during his spells 🐻with Red Bull and Renault.
His dream of becoming an F1 world champi♑on look♔s unlikely so it might be time for him to try something new, a switch to IndyCar perhaps?
It would be a shame to lose a driver of Ricciardo’s calbre and personality, especially when there’s still a couple of midfield drives s🧜till on the table.


With a sharp eyꦿe for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the heartbeat of our unbiased reporting.