Daniel Ricciardo has confirmed he won’t be on the Formula 1 grid in 2023 and is instead focusing on returning to a full-time race seat for 2024.
Ricciardo’s short-term future has looked bleak since agreeing to cut short his contract at McLaren a year early to make way for Oscar Piastri, with his options for next year growing slimmer.
The announcement on Saturday that Pierre Gasly will join Alpine and Nyck de Vries will take up Gasly’s vacant seat at AlphaTauri leaves only Haas and Williams as Ricciardo’s remaining options to stay in F1 for 2024.
But a deal with either team looks unlikely as Haas is set to choose between Mick Schumacher or Nico Hulkenberg to partner Kevin Magnussen, while Williams is leaning towards protege Logan Sargeant providing he secures a superlicence.
Eight-time grand prix winner Ricciardo has accepted the reality he will sit out next year, hinting in recent weeks at the idea of taking a sabbatical and a reserve driver role.
Asked if the news of Gasly’s switch to Alpine would impact his F1 hopes, Ricciardo said, as quoted by Motorsport.com: “The Gasly news I was aware of.
“I knew they were they were talking for a while, and I knew they were very interested in Pierre. Let’s say I was prepared for that, and no surprise.
“We were trying to let’s say navigate our way around that, and figure out what was next. But I think the reality is now I won’t be on the grid in ’23.
“I think it’s now just trying to set up for ’24. I think that there could be some better opportunities then. So that’s really what all this confirms, and now where the sights are set.”
While Ricciardo has been linked with a move to another series such as NASCAR and IndyCar, he stressed his intention was to remain involved in F1 even if he’s not racing.
“Certainly, the plan is still to be involved in F1,” he said. “I’d say this is kind of like just hitting pause for a little bit, as I see it, let’s say, as far as my F1 career goes. It’s like the full intention is for ’24.
“Sure, it could open up opportunities to maybe do some of that stuff, but if I feel it’s going deviate away from my target, then I will still say it’s not really where I’m looking, and as fun and cool, to compete in something else.
“The truth is mentally I’m not there yet. I’m still so engaged in this, and I think like a bit of time or out of a seat will probably do me good.
“So I would probably use that, as opposed to trying to jump in something else and stay busy in a different category. I’d say pretty convincingly, it wouldn’t happen anywhere else.”
