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Daniel Ricciardo’s future has been the centre of speculation for months with the Aussie leaving a surprising option on the table.
The West Australian star has already ruled out being on the Formula 1 grid in 2023, with speculation he’ll join either Red Bull or Mercedes in a reserve driver role.
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Hot off the heels of a blistering seventh placed finish at the Mexico Grand Prix, many have questioned Ricciardo’s decision to take a year off.
After news of his departure from McLaren was announced, Ricciardo was quick to shut down a move to join McLaren’s IndyCar team … but the Aussie isn’t taking a venture home off the table.
Ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix with nothing locked in ahead of 2023, the Aussie was asked if he’d consider driving outside of F1 with Supercars used as the example.
“I guess I need to wait to see where I land next year,” he said.
“Obviously I’m talking about potentially a reserve role or whatever. Truth is, I haven’t agreed to anything or signed anything yet.
“Then it comes to a question of, what am I allowed to do, is one thing, but ultimately, if I feel maybe doing a one-off will benefit me, and keep me sharp or whatever.
“Then it’s something I’ll potentially look into.
“But I’m kind of like, F1 is so different to maybe a touring car or something, that I don’t know if it will kind of distance me more. So that’s what I would need to work out.
“So yeah, tough. I don’t want to say no yet to anything. But ideally, I’d get some days in an F1 car as opposed to trying to, let’s say, get a seat somewhere else.”
Ricciardo has previously driven a Supercar in practice in 2019 and 2016, and his McLaren boss Zak Brown is co-owner of Supercars team Walkinshaw Andretti United.
The Australian has also spoken more than once about his desire to drive a Supercar around Bathurst.
‘I’m at peace with that’: Ricciardo admits his F1 career could be over ahead of sabbatical
Ricciardo’s decision to take a year off from Formula 1, despite a seat being readily available to join Guenther Steiner at Haas, before a hopeful return in 2024 was questioned by former world champ Jenson Button.
“I guess he didn’t want to drop too far down the grid and work with a team that’s more towards the rear because it’s difficult for a driver coming from a team that is almost winning races, at times, to suddenly know you’re fighting for points,” Button told Sky Sports.
“It is tough. But I still think it would have been a better move for him.
“Go into a team, work hard, show people what you can do, in a car that maybe suits you a bit more, and then people forget what happened the year before.
“That’s the issue now, people forget how good Ricciardo is because he’s had such a difficult year-and-half or two years.
“But he has the talent, and in a car that suits him, he would show his skill and then he has the opportunity to race in a top team again. But sitting out? People just remember what happened last year. It’s a tricky one and I really struggle to see him coming back to a competitive team after having a year out.”
After finishing seventh and earning driver of the day for his efforts in Mexico, Ricciardo will turn his attention to the second last race of the season in Brazil.
Ricciardo currently sits 12th in the drivers standings, one point behind Sebastian Vettel but a distant 76 points behind teammate Lando Norris.
The F1 season resumes on Monday, November 14 with the Brazilian Grand Prix, with lights out scheduled for 5am AEDT.
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