Daniel Ricciardo’s time at McLaren has finally expired as the Australian bid farewell to the British team after the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi. As of now, Ricciardo’s age can be seen as a potential reason for his early retirement from Formula 1. Mika Hakkinen, however, feels the Australian has time in his hands to make a return to the sport.

The two-time F1 champion believes the Honey Badger is currently on the right side of time. Given his age, he now needs to find himself, rediscover, and look up to different drivers who made a return to the sport even in their mid-30s.

Talking about this, Hakkinen penned down in his column for Unibet, “I think Daniel is different – he has had a couple of tough seasons and just needs to rediscover his motivation. At 33 years of age, he has time on his side.”

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However, Hakkinen also feels a break is also important in the F1 career. “Daniel is a good driver, but after some years in F1, a break can be important,” further stated the Finnish in a report published by Motorsportweek. Despite the break, Hakkinen believes he still has time to return.

Daniel Ricciardo opens up on his Formula 1 return

Daniel Ricciardo debuted in Formula 1 with Hispania Racing in 2011 and the last season was his 12th season in the sport. For the first time in many years, the Honey Badger will not start any race as a primary driver in F1 in 2023. As the Australian is in the reserve role for Red Bull next year, he recently opened up on his chances to return.

Talking about this, the Honey Badger revealed in the recently surfaced F1’s Beyond The Grid podcast, “I think right now, sitting here, I don’t feel completely done. I think I’ll want to get back on the grid, but time will tell. I’m not going to say, ‘Yeah, I can have every seat I want.”

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“But ultimately it’s my decision if I want to be back. [Having] that fire, and everything I expect to feel when the lights go out [in 2023] and I’m watching on the sidelines, that’s up to me to answer,” concluded the former Renault driver.

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Daniel Ricciardo parted ways with McLaren after two years of a bitter-sweet journey. Having been replaced by the Woking-based team with compatriot Oscar Piastri in the Papaya team, Ricciardo chose to be behind Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in Red Bull for 2023.