Daniel Ricciardo Speaks Out On F1 Future: "Don’t Want To Be On The Grid At Any Cost"

Daniel Ricciardo explains that he will only come back in a competitive seat.

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo has spoken about his highly anticipated F1 return, saying that he will only consider a permanent seat with a competitive team. 

McLaren parted ways with Ricciardo at the end of the 2022 season and as time went on with no news, it became apparent that the eight-time grand prix winner was not going to be able to secure a permanent seat for 2023. 

Ricciardo ultimately made a return to Red Bull, which he drove for between 2014 and 2018, as their third driver. 

There had been talks of Haas being interested in signing the Aussie, however, team principal Guenther Steiner made it clear that they were not able to afford him and they went on to sign Nico Hulkenberg as a replacement for Mick Schumacher.

During an interview with Fox Sports, Ricciardo reflected on his McLaren departure, explaining:

“Once you’re in the season, it’s relentless. All you really have a chance to do is dissect the last race and [say] ‘okay, the set up was this and we’ll do that next time’.

“You don’t actually get a look at the big picture.

“Even now I look back and even the last two years at McLaren and I’m like, ‘okay, yeah, I understand why that didn’t work,’ ‘I would have done that better or done that differently or cut these things out or added that’.

“So I’m even in a position now, only a few months removed from last season, where if I get back on the grid next year I already have things that I want to do different and it’s quite cool. I wouldn’t have had that if I was still in the race car.”

Fans are eager to see Ricciardo back in a full-time seat. The driver went on to add that he would only consider a competitive seat. He continued:

“One thing I want to get out of this year is I want to know what I want, but I also want to know what I don’t want. And I think I can already answer that.

“I don’t want to go back to ground zero. I don’t want to just be on the grid [in order] to be on the grid and struggle in 18th place. So I don’t want to be on the grid at any cost.

“I know that it’s harder to just jump straight into a top team in terms of availability. But I know that’s where I want to be. I know I thrive in those situations when there is more on the line.

“I think at this point in my career to [have] that real hunger and motivation to race at the front, that’s all I really want. I know it probably makes it even a little harder to get to, but that’s where I’m looking.”