What’s next for Danny Ricciardo?

​Now that AstonMartin, McLaren and Alpine have the situation all pretty much sorted now with Alonso of AstonMartin, Oscar to McLaren and what’s looks set for Pierre Gasly to Alpine for 2023 I question obviously now where does this leave Ricciardo???

Now look Ricciardo is one the biggest personalities within F1 and has been for quite sometime but sadly F1 isn’t a personality sport because if it was well then Sebastian Vettel would been the 2021 and 2022 champion by a long mile! But F1 is driven by results and unfortunately for Daniel Ricciardo besides from Monza of last season which is almost now a whole year ago, his time at McLaren has been somewhat of failure despite that one win and number of occasions he’s been outshined by a young British Lando Norris! But where does he go now and hopefully in this we can draw a conclusion!!!

Back to Alpine. 

So going back to the team he left in the end of 2020, difficulty is he’s got competition with Pierre Gasly and yes those 8 wins to his credentials probably do help him somewhat but I think if Alpine rejects Gasly it’s a bad move for them. Gasly has gone back to AlphaTauri and re-found his mojo and for him to get a second opportunity within a decent team I think is good fit. It’s good for Alpine as well from a brand point of view with it being a all French line up and ultimately for Gasly it’ll be good for him because he’ll be breaking out of that RedBull family for once. Alpine would be getting a good young driver with also a good bit of a wise head now and much more improved upon the driver which got his opportunity at the beginning of 2019! When Pierre got that RedBull drive it was too soon for him but I believe this time around it isn’t. And taking Ricciardo back I think would be a bit foolish to miss out on a promising young talent in Gasly. 

Move to Haas

Now if Ricciardo wants to stay in F1 next season and beyond I think this is his only option. HAAS! Yep that’s right the American team. I don’t see any alternative besides this then a sabbatical for him!!! Haas could replace Mick Schumacher who’s been somewhat crash heavy and not really delivered strong points so far within his career. Mick has shown glimpses of promises but is it enough? I think if Haas wants a replacement for Mick then Ricciardo will be that man. Because when we look at Ricciardo's other options he’s not returning to a top team like RedBull, Ferrari or Mercedes unless the a shock development and in the midfield then what is left? He won’t end up at AlphaTauri for obvious reasons, he’s not going to be at Williams either because they have the own plans for 2023 and beyond and Ricciardo in my opinion doesn’t fit in those and ultimately the only ONE team left. And that’s Haas. Would it be a good fit? For Haas maybe, they’d certainly be getting a more seasoned driver within him and also someone who’s more profitable arguably due to the successes and support group’s. Whilst the Schumacher name is big still but let’s be honest that’s Michael not MICK. 

I like Mick a lot but I fear for him and question has he done enough to prove or warrant been given another year in F1?? And with Ricciardo again don’t forget whilst he’s been struggling as of late doesn’t mean he still can’t produce because his last win was only a year ago. 

Retirement or Mercedes reserve! 

Now his next two options are fairly bleak! Retire or Mercedes reserve. I think retirement might make sense! Maybe he should go somewhere else drive a different category and don’t forget Alonso, Kimi and Schumacher all took time out from F1 before making a return and sometimes that’s for the best of all parties. Whilst Haas might want Daniel but does Daniel want Haas? That’s the real question. I would like to see Daniel maybe do IndyCar or something like this and I think this would be more beneficial for him and for his future as race car driver. The has been talk of Mercedes offering him a reserved role but I just don’t see it and even if he did accept it then what would be his longer term plan? I just don’t know or grasp that!!! 

To conclude I think retirement is for now Ricciardo best option and I think he should see where things lay in 2024 and beyond. I think he needs a break, he no longer looks himself and as Christian Horner said in a interview with SkySports F1 recently “It’s juts very sad, obviously I’m not close to it. I’ve spoken to Daniel a little bit. I don’t recognise him as the same driver as he was with when he was with us. He’s one of the best guys out there. He’s definitely got that capability.” 

But I find this so true from Christian who knows his former drivers such as Sebastian, Daniel and manny other better then no one else. Daniel since he left Renault I think hasn’t quite been the same and in fact since 2018 things have been on a clear downhill slope. Maybe it time for him to take just a small break and rediscover himself again as a person and individual.