After mutually parting ways with McLaren one year before the contract was to run out, Daniel Ricciardo decided to take a year off from Formula 1. However, Mercedes has shown interest in signing him as a reserve driver. But will Ricciardo sign the deal now that Lewis Hamilton has made his intentions to sign a new long-term contract with the Silver Arrows clear? He says he’ll come back with a vengeance.

With Mercedes’ current reserve driver Nyck de Vries committed to joining AlphaTauri next season, there is an opportunity open for Ricciardo. He has until now neither confirmed nor denied his interest in the seat.

Daniel Ricciardo is to come back to Formula 1 with a vengeance

The prospect of signing a Mercedes reserve driver must have been an enticing prospect. Ricciardo could have signed the deal and hoped to impress enough to rise up the ranks and become a regular driver. However, those hopes took a dent when Lewis Hamilton before the Mexican GP, revealed he wants to sign a new long-term contract.

Reacting to Lewis’ intention to sign a new contract, Ricciardo said, “The truth is I want him to stay in the sport. He’s one of the greatest ever to do it and I think competing with him, going wheel to wheel with him, is fun, it’s awesome. It’s normally at the pointy end, so I certainly wish to do that more in the future.”

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We do not know whether Hamilton’s statements were a factor, but the Honey Badger seems firm on taking a year off from the sport. He recently revealed, “I want to take the time necessary, keep a little bit of distance to the sport and, let’s say, rebuild myself, but then if something makes sense in ‘24, [I’ll] come back with a vengeance and have some fun, and hopefully race at the front.”

Lewis Hamilton plans to sign a multi-year deal with Mercedes

Speaking to the media ahead of the Mexican GP, Hamilton revealed his plan to sign a multi-year deal with Mercedes. He is currently 37 years old and a long-term contract may well see him race beyond 40.

The 7-time world champion said, “I really, really don’t know what the next five years (hold). I think we’re still trying to work on that. There are a lot of great things being put in place, like I just launched a production company this week, but I feel great in my mind and body.”

He continued, “I want to continue, I think there’s more stuff for us to achieve together so I want to be here longer.”

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Mercedes is showing signs of a resurgence of late. Not only are their drivers outperforming Ferrari drivers, but they are also threatening to snatch the runners-up position in the constructors’ standings from them. It will be interesting to see whether they can challenge Red Bull for a race win after missing out on one the entire season.