Formula 1 Rumors

Rumor: Ricciardo to be Reserve Driver for Red Bull in 2023 (3rd Update)

Posted by AR1 staff

This rumor is upgraded to ‘fact’ today.

Although no formal announcement has been made by the team, Red Bull advisor Marko claimed Ricciardo was set to sign as a third driver for next year, indicating the role would be chiefly relating to ambassador events and show runs.

“Ricciardo will be our third driver,” said Marko on Sky Germany after FP1 in Abu Dhabi.

“We have so many sponsors, we have to do show runs and the like, so of course he’s one of the most high-profile and best-suited.”

October 31, 2022 

This rumor is upgraded to ‘strong’ today.

Daniel Ricciardo has finally confirmed that he “won’t be on the grid next year”.

The eight-time grand prix winner turned down Haas’ offer of talks about a 2023 race seat after losing his place at McLaren.

“I won’t be on the starting grid next year, but I will be here because I have ambitious goals for 2024,” the 33-year-old Australian said in Mexico.

It was rumored that he would become Mercedes’ reserve driver next year, replacing the Alpha Tauri-bound Nyck de Vries.

But there are also rumors that he is in talks with Red Bull about a similar role for 2023.

“Discussions are ongoing, but nothing has been signed yet,” Ricciardo said. “Nothing is guaranteed for 2024, but I will do everything I can to return.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff confirms that talks are taking place – and he also thinks the former Renault and Red Bull driver is in negotiations with “other teams”.

“Also with Red Bull Racing,” said the Austrian. “For us, we think he’s a great character. But we are not yet ready to say who our third driver will be next season.

“His personality is an absolute strength, and Daniel has been with us for a long time – he knows these cars inside out,” Wolff added. “That can definitely be an advantage.

“But I don’t want to start any rumors here because the truth is that we haven’t decided yet.”

Ricciardo was voted ‘driver of the day’ in Mexico after a series of overtakes en route to seventh at the flag – but Yuki Tsunoda was furious with the Australian for a collision.

“It annoys me so much that such an experienced driver tried to overtake in a corner where overtaking is basically impossible,” said the Japanese.

October 1, 2022 

Daniel Ricciardo may have inadvertently given a major clue as to where his Formula One future lies after being spotted leaving the Mercedes garage ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.

Ricciardo was filmed leaving the Mercedes garage wearing his bright orange McLaren gear through the front door.

‘I’m still keen to be part of F1 and of course, ‘Plan A’ would be to be on the grid,’ Ricciardo said.

‘So nothing’s changed but I don’t want to just jump at the first kind of seat available. I know the landscape probably changes as well at the end of next year, with contracts and whatever, so I don’t want to say remaining patient, but remaining open.’

Ricciardo also suggested it is a case of F1 or bust, claiming that a move to another motorsport would signal the end of his F1 career.

Ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix on Friday, the Australian was spotted walking out of the Mercedes hospitality area at Marina Bay, once again sending the rumor mill into overdrive.

“Mercedes are definitely interested,” The Times journalist Rebecca Clancy told CODE Sports’ Track Torque podcast last month.

“Mercedes would love him as their reserve driver because he brings experience, the talent, absolute marketers dream.

“He is talking to all the teams, there are some options, he doesn’t want to be uncompetitive though.

“The discussions (with Mercedes) will keep rolling, they don’t really need to make a decision until March next year, or testing, maybe in February.

“(Ricciardo) is a proven performer and quite frankly the sport needs people like him.

“These young drivers who are coming in, their whole lives are racing, don’t make for the most interesting people.

“You need the slightly older guys. Drive to Survive needs them, F1 needs them, we all need them. I’m not in love with how the grid is shaping up next season.”

The footage of Ricciardo waltzing out of the Mercedes building has only fanned the flames of F1’s annual silly season.

“I still believe that an opportunity is there for Daniel Ricciardo to remain in Formula 1 for next season at Red Bull or Mercedes as a third driver,” Sky Sports commentator David Croft said on Friday.

“Talks have been ongoing, shall we say, with both of those teams.”

There has been mounting speculation about Ricciardo’s next move, but he is quickly running out of options. Only three F1 teams are yet to confirm their driver line-ups for 2023, with seats still available at Alpine, Haas and Williams.

September 8, 2022 

Mercedes are planning for a future without Lewis Hamilton – with Daniel Ricciardo under consideration to come in as his replacement in 2024.

Hamilton is only signed up to the Silver Arrows until the end of next season, a few weeks short of his 39th birthday.

The seven-time world champion has made no exact public statement about the timing of his retirement, other than to say that he, rather than anyone else, will decide when his ‘masterpiece’ is completed.

However, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is not leaving succession planning to chance, which is where Sportsmail understands Ricciardo comes into the reckoning.

The Australian has been axed by McLaren for next season after a dip in form, and he wants to find a new home in motor racing’s premier series.

Daniel Ricciardo – a broken man. Washed up or did McLaren purposely make him look bad because he is not British?

One idea under consideration by Mercedes is to enlist him as a reserve driver for next season and then have him as an oven-ready option to take over Hamilton’s race seat, if needed, and partner Englishman George Russell the following year.

Russell, 24, has impressed greatly during his first season at Mercedes and leads Hamilton by 30 points going into this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

But he is patiently biding his time before assuming the role of de facto No 1 when Hamilton stops.

‘Mercedes are thinking about Ricciardo to cover off the possibility of walking away at the end of next season,’ a well-placed source told Sportsmail.

‘Having Daniel in their camp means they wouldn’t be left high and dry. It would also mean George would be the main man from that point in 2024.’

Ricciardo, an eight-time race winner, has said he is ‘pretty open-minded to any scenario’.

The 33-year-old has been linked with Haas but whether they want to meet his pay demands is doubtful. He may also find it unattractive to be parked at the backmarkers, especially if Mercedes continue to turn his head. DailyMail