Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 world champion, says that Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career might already be over if he doesn’t remain in the sport for the 2023 F1 season. Daniel Ricciardo’s contract was terminated by Mclaren earlier this season. The Aussie driver joined the Woking team in the 2021 season. In two seasons with Mclaren, Ricciardo couldn’t perform to his potential with the British outfit. His only highlight for Mclaren was the 2021 Italian GP win.
Besides that, Ricciardo hasn’t stepped on the podium for the British team in 2 seasons. At that same time, Lando Norris stepped on the podium five times with Mclaren. Ricciardo has constantly struggled to get up to speed with his Mclaren car and saw his race seat being passed to Oscar Piastri for the 2023 season.
Ricciardo’s Options for 2023 race seat
Daniel Ricciardo’s Option for a race seat for the 2023 season is only the Haas seat. Ricciardo has already said he won’t consider driving for a team struggling to score points. Button believes that Ricciardo shouldn’t be choosy in the matter. Ricciardo has announced that he would consider taking a sabbatical from F1 for a year. He would sit the 2023 season out and may join Mercedes or Red Bull for a reserve role, but this news isn’t official.
What Jenson Button has to say on the matter
“I guess he didn’t want to drop too far down the grid and work with a team that’s more towards the rear because it’s difficult for a driver coming from a team that is almost winning races at times to a point where you know you’re fighting for points”: said Jenson Button.
“It is tough. But I still think it would have been a better move for Ricciardo. Go into a team, work hard, and show people what you can do in a car that maybe suits your car a bit more. Then people forget what happened the year before. That’s the issue now, and people forget how good Ricciardo is. He’s had such a difficult year and a half. But he has the talent, and in a car that suits him. He would show his skill, and then he has the opportunity to race in a top team again—but sitting out? People only remember what happened last year. It’s a tricky one, and I struggle to see him returning to a competitive team after a year out.”
What are Ricciardo’s plans for the 2023 season?
After a strong finish in the Mexican Grand Prix, where Ricciardo finished P7 even after taking a 10-second time penalty, he told the media that he is planning to see the 2023 season in a reserve role. “I still want to be in the sport, and I want to be working with a team still with the ambition to be back on the grid in 2024:” said Ricciardo.
“I feel like a bit of time away from a race seat will do me good, and then try to rebuild on something for 2024. I’m not done, but it will look a bit different. While I’m certainly talking to teams, I still want to keep a foot in the door, as I said, for 2024. I’m sure seeing the lights go out in race one, I’ll already have that itch, so I want to be back in 2024.” Whatever the future holds for Daniel Ricciardo, his absence on the grid will be sorely missed.
