After a disappointing qualifying session at the Japanese Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo announced his decision to hang up the helmet for 2023. With Pierre Gasly signing up for Alpine and Nyck de Vries’ seat confirmed in AlphaTauri, Ricciardo seems aware that he won’t be on the 2023 grid.

Daniel Ricciardo’s decision to leave the grid for a year has sent a shockwave of sorrow among fans. More than a few have suggested Ricciardo switch to racing in other championships like NASCAR or IndyCar instead of waiting for F1.

Being an immense NASCAR fan, Daniel Ricciardo arguably has the charisma and racing skills for the sport. And no one is a more staunch advocate of Ricciardo switching sports than F1 presenter Will Buxton.

Buxton took to Twitter after Ricciardo’s news broke and he wrote, “Daniel’s sabbatical doesn’t make sense to me. I genuinely don’t understand the reasoning. If his hope is of moving up where does he go? Even if he takes Merc reserve there won’t be a race seat in 2024. RBR & Ferrari are solid, so now are Alpine, and McLaren… that ship’s sailed.”

Daniel Ricciardo had spoken of his desire to set sights on the 2024 grid. But Buxton’s words hold some weight that one year would not make a major difference.

“If the F1 dream is over, sooner he makes peace with it and finds a new lease of life in a championship where he can be competitive. That’s why I’d have loved to see him in Indycar. Not sat in the back of a garage twiddling his thumbs.”

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Several Ricciardo fans who would love to see the ever-cheery man follow Buxton’s advice. But at this point, what matters is what Daniel Ricciardo wishes to do next.

Daniel Ricciardo is not mentally ready for IndyCar or NASCAR

It is not only fans who consider that IndyCar or NASCAR would be a great path for Ricciardo for now.

Daniel has received invitations for IndyCar previously, with the most recent being from Romain Grosjean. Upon announcement of his sabbatical, the former F1 driver tweeted that he would love to see Ricciardo in IndyCar.

However, the Aussie driver has put all hopes of his career switch to rest. He has no desire to shut the door on F1 yet, claiming he is merely ‘hitting a pause’.

“As fun or cool as it sounds to compete in something else, the truth is mentally, I’m not there yet. I’m still so, so engaged in this and I think a bit of time off out of a seat will probably do me good,” said Ricciardo.

“I would probably use that as opposed [to get back in F1] than try to jump in something else and stay busy in a different category. I’d say pretty convincingly say it wouldn’t happen anywhere else.”

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Those are some pretty definitive words from Daniel Ricciardo, slamming the opportunity for now. While we must respect his choice, one cannot help but mourn his absence from the racetrack.