'Ricciardo can regain confidence as Mercedes reserve driver'

Daniel Ricciardo 's future is still wide open, but a surprising move is on the horizon. Joe Saward reports that there are rumours of Ricciardo becoming a reserve driver for Mercedes.

At the end of 2018, Ricciardo was considered a great talent in F1. At Red Bull Racing, however, he noticed that the team's preference went more to Max Verstappen and so he took his chances. Renault seemed a step backwards, but the Australian was the undisputed frontrunner there. Yet after two years he closed the door behind him for a new adventure at rival McLaren.

In the two years at McLaren, Ricciardo's career has taken a big hit. Lando Norris proved in the first year and a half to be much more successful. McLaren has therefore decided to buy out Ricciardo's contract for 2023 (for ten million dollars) in order to be able to put another driver in the car.

In September, the competitive seats in F1 are no longer up for grabs. A return to Alpine (former Renault) is an option, but is the French racing team waiting for his return? Haas would also be an option, but Ricciardo himself states that he wants to be competitive again as soon as possible and with Haas that does not seem realistic.

Saward now reports in his blog that Ricciardo has been linked with a move to Mercedes, but as a reserve driver behind Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. There the Australian could work on his self-confidence and possibly drive himself into the spotlight for Hamilton's seat. The Briton's contract expires at the end of 2023. A role as reserve driver would be a big step backwards for the Australian, however.

Ricciardo is not the only one with many question marks surrounding him. Silly Season has been revived by the whole Oscar Piastri saga. Pierre Gasly is hoping to get the seat at Alpine, Mick Schumacher might be dumped by Haas and Williams' search for a replacement for Nicholas Latifi might have led to Nyck de Vries. Silly Season proves never to be boring in F1.