Update | AMuS knows: 'Ricciardo signs with Red Bull for 2023'
F1 News
- GPblog.com
No team were (apparently) interested in giving Daniel Ricciardo a spot on the grid in 2023. However, the Australian could have a way back into the sport as a reserve driver. Red Bull Racing and Mercedes are trying to get his signature. So Ricciardo has some choice, and now it is reported that he has decided where he wants to continue his career.
Austrian media, such as Kronen Zeitung, are now pretty sure that Ricciardo is returning to his old team Red Bull. The newspaper reports that news of the comeback will be announced soon. Mercedes will therefore continue their search for a backup driver.
Ricciardo and Red Bull are not yet willing to say anything about the driver's potential return. On Saturday, for instance, Helmut Marko said to Sky Sports: "We are talking." The Red Bull advisor gave no further details on the state of those negotiations, although he did add that he had no desire to repeat himself. In other words, there was nothing new to report.
So Ricciardo would be returning to the team he left for Renault at the end of 2018. It was a move that raised a lot of question marks at the time, as Red Bull were a top team, and wanted to continue with him, whilst Renault were a midfield team. The period with the French team was not a success, just as the move to McLaren proved to be.
Update | Ricciardo looks set to return to Red Bull
Not only do several media outlets from Austria claim that Daniel Ricciardo will return to Red Bull; the leading Auto, Motor und Sport is also certain that the Australian will return to drive for the Milton Keynes-based team in 2023.
The Perth-based driver will not only become the reserve driver, but will also take his place in the simulator in the need of developing the RB19. Moreover, he will be employed as a 'brand ambassador' which means he will also be seen frequently in promotional activities.
Mercedes is also said to have been interested in Ricciardo, but a preference to his former employer would have been preferred. Mercedes now seems to have come out in favour of Mick Schumacher. The German has been told to leave as driver of Haas F1.