In the Formula 1 paddock, one of the most recurring questions is what Daniel Ricciardo will do in the 2023 season. Will he be able to find a seat in a team on the grid or will he go to another renowned category such as IndyCar?
The Australian’s short-term plans are still unknown, although he himself acknowledged that he intends to continue in the Grand Circus once the Abu Dhabi race with McLaren F1 is over, in what could be his last participation with a Formula 1 single-seater.
After eight wins and 32 podiums, Ricciardo ‘s career has reached a crossroads. After the announcement of the Woking team, his name was linked to Alpine, but also to Chip Ganassi, a team in the midst of a legal battle with Alex Palou, who signed with McLaren for a seat in a competition yet to be defined.
However, there is another possibility, and it is a choice that would allow the Australian to stay with a foot and a half in Formula 1. In the last week, the driver spoke with Mercedes about his possible participation in a reserve program with those of the arrows of silver, and apparently the answer was positive.
Obviously, it would be a role that does not include a great mileage, but it is a way to continue in the highest category of motorsport: “Like all drivers, I want to race, but if I find something as a third driver in a reference team, I could seriously evaluate it. “.
Daniel Ricciardo did not explicitly mention Mercedes, but it is no secret that both parties have consulted on a possible union. For the German team, having a figure like the Australian available is a guarantee of being able to count on a security replacement, and it would not be a problem to release him in case Ricciardo is presented with a starting seat in another team.
The ever-smiling driver made no secret of his desire to leave Formula 1 in another way, namely after one last chance to prove that the Ricciardo of recent seasons was not where he started, and to avoid leaving him as a mere negative memory. However, there is also the attraction of IndyCar, the desire and the adrenaline of getting back into the fight for something important.
The decision is not easy, and it will probably be made between the Italian Grand Prix and the Singapore Grand Prix, in the week without races.
