A star at Red Bull. Barely making waves at Renault. A pale shadow of himself at McLaren. That’s Daniel Ricciardo for you in brief. With nothing to lose, can a trip back home bring us the old Danny back?

Daniel Ricciardo was expected to take up the mantle at Red Bull when he drove for the Austrian giants. As he replaced Mark Webber and partnered with Sebastian Vettel, the team expected him to be their next title contender.

Fast with superb overtaking techniques and skills, the Australian was a tenacious driver on the tracks and a fun personality off it. The marketing team would never have it bad. But he chose to leave Red Bull as he saw himself becoming the #2 behind Max Verstappen. His stints at Renault and McLaren proved to be the wrong decision for him.

As of September 2022, he stands without a seat in F1 for the coming seasons. What are his alternatives? None it seems. No team is ready to take the risk on a 33-year-old. But a small light seems to have shone in his dark times. There are rumors that the Australian is a consideration for the reserve driver spot at Mercedes and now, more interestingly, Red Bull.

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Both Christian Horner and Lewis Hamilton have made public their admiration for Ricciardo’s driving skills. So will the paddock’s Honey Badger don the black overalls offered by Mercedes or the more familiar navy of the Bulls – should the opportunity be extended to him?

While the drivers’ market is always full of rumors like these, the move would make tactical sense. To have such an experienced and talented driver as your reserve only strengthens the team.

Why isn’t Daniel Ricciardo a more sought-after man?

While a reserve role at two of the biggest teams in F1 sounds great, but why aren’t more teams after Ricciardo’s signature given there is still strong support and admiration for his driving skills?

His form since his change over from Red Bull has not done him any favors. Moreover, it looks like it is a conscious decision from the man himself.

Asked prior to the Singapore GP, Ricciardo said, “Plan A would be to be on the grid, but nothing’s changed. Let’s say I don’t want to just jump at the first seat available. I know the landscape probably changes as well end of next year with contracts and whatever so I don’t want to say remaining patient, but just remaining open… I also don’t want to just look at the next 12 months and not look at the next 24”.

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Ricciardo is not in any rush to join a back-of-the-grid team or to leave F1 for another motorsport just for the sake of driving. It is a conscious decision he and his team have made. Whether it’s a good decision or not, you can decide.