Daniel Ricciardo admits he is keeping one eye on a RETURN to Red Bull as the Formula 1 driver opens up on his retirement plans and insists he is ‘truly back in love with the sport’ despite suffering several setbacks this season
- Daniel Ricciardo has given an insight into his retirement plans after F1 career
- The Alpha Tauri driver also said he was ‘truly back in love with the sport’
- He claimed he was eyeing a move back to Red Bull after spending time away
Daniel Ricciardo has opened up on his future plans in Formula 1, admitting his ambition is to one day drive again for Red Bull.
The Australian, who currently drives for Alpha Tauri, also said that he is ‘back in love’ with the sport, having spent some time away from Formula 1 last year.
The 34-year-old made his return to the sport earlier this summer, partnering with Yuki Tsounda, but admits he’s keeping one eye on a return to his former side Red Bull.
‘Being back here [Alpha Tauri], it just feels very right for me,’ he said in an interview with The Mirror.
‘The chemistry in the team is really good and I like that. The big picture would be to get back to that team [Red Bull] and that car one day, but I also said that if there is not an opening then I want to stay here.’
Daniel Ricciardo has opened up on his ambitions to re-join Red Bull before he retires from Formula 1
The Australian has enjoyed two stints at Red Bull during his career, partnering with Sebastian Vettel back in 2014, before returning to the team as a third driver in 2023
It’s been a difficult season for the Australian, who has suffered several set backs, notably being ruled out of the Dutch Grand Prix with a broken hand and was also sidelined for the Qatar Grand Prix earlier this October.
After his contract with McLaren was terminated prematurely in 2022, Ricciardo returned to the sport to work in a supporting role as the third driver at his former team Red Bull.
He replaced Nick De Vries earlier this summer after the team parted ways with the Dutch driver, with Ricciardo extending his contract with Alpha Tauri, guaranteeing him a seat in the car for the 2024 season.
While he admitted that his time away from the track may have lengthened his career, he also opened up on his targets with Red Bull’s sister team, stating that he was hoping to help the side push to become a leader in the sport.
‘The team is going through a rebuild for next year and if I can contribute and get this team more towards the front and to be taken more seriously, that’s it,’ He added. ‘If it’s not the big team, it’s here.
He returned to the cockpit earlier this summer but has endured a difficult of late, suffering several injuries that have stalled his comeback
Yet, Ricciardo admitted that he is hungry to continue to drive and added that he has fallen back ‘in love’ with the sport
‘Having had this time off, I definitely feel I have a few more years in me. It’s not like it’s just, ‘One more year and I’m done’. I would say I’ve comfortably got three more good years and if it’s a good car and I’m doing well then that three could easily become six.
‘I don’t plan on being in and out – I want to give this second stint of my career the best effort I can because I know once this one is done, that’s probably it for me. Right now, I’m all in and it feels good.’
He currently sits bottom of the drivers’ standings having only raced twice in 2023, but also said that taking time away from the cockpit had instilled greater hunger in him to continue to drive.
‘I feel like I’m truly back in love with the sport and really hungry and motivated again. That’s something that wore on me in the last few years, which is natural if you’re not performing at the level you think you can. But I’m in a good place now.’
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