Have you ever wondered, what goes inside Daniel Ricciardo‘s mind moments before the lights go out? Lately, the Honey Badger has been on the roughest side of F1. From finishing third on the Driver’s standing in 2014 and 2016 to struggling for points, he has seen it all. And many believe this downfall has everything to do with his departure from Red Bull.

When Danny left Red Bull in 2018, he was the only one who thought he took the right decision. However, he wasn’t too late to realize the blunder he had caused for his career. Back then, he didn’t want to continue under Max Verstappen‘s shadow and injected that the team revolved around his junior. But as time went on, Ricciardo found himself in the most difficult spots, only to understand he should’ve stayed.

Daniel Ricciardo’s incorrect evaluation led to his downfall in F1

Peter Windsor thinks: “His [Daniel Ricciardo’s] entire system took a massive jolt the day he decided to leave Red Bull.” He further said on his YouTube livestream, that Ricciardo’s bank account went up but, “his feel for racing and driving proportionally went down.” Had he stayed, Red Bull could’ve given him more Grands Prix wins. Windsor added: “He wouldn’t have beaten Max to any of the Championships, but he would have won probably by now I think he probably would have won at least another eight to ten races probably since the period he left.” 

Moreover, Daniel Ricciardo’s impulsive decision, or as some have pointed out ‘lack of judgment’ is “always going to be a massive slap in the face for his psyche.” And psychologically, he has to live with that. The Aussie used to be one of the most dominant forces on the track a few years ago. It’s disheartening to see how he’s deteriorated throughout the years. So much so that Red Bull doesn’t want him back in the team.

At the same time the ex-Ferrari boss, Peter Windsor also believes that Ricciardo still has it in him to go on. However, Danny Ric’s style of driving has now become overused. Despite all odds, he’s as good as Lando Norris, and Windsor believes had he been in a good car, he could’ve done better this season. Because the ‘Honey Badger’ is gradually catching pace. But, P12 and P14 won’t get him back into Red Bull.

Will Daniel Ricciardo ever return to Red Bull?

At this point, Ricciardo should let go of his dreams to get back to the Austrian team. He had ample chances this season to prove himself to Christian Horner and Helmut Marko. But he mostly blew them away. And while his future in F1 looked gloomier initially, with all the ultimatums that he received, currently the dark clouds have slightly cleared. However, this doesn’t mean Ricciardo can go on with his subpar performance.

He must prove himself further after the summer break to retain his seat. Liam Lawson is still hovering around to become the VCARB #2. Moreover, Daniel Ricciardo’s fight to become Max Verstappen’s teammate will continue. And yes, with Sergio Perez‘s 2024 retention, the next season should be the Aussie’s target. But, can Danny truly outshine his teammate Yuki Tsunoda? That’ll be a question for the second phase of the season.

The debate over Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull exit decision will persist in the fast-paced F1 atmosphere. Is he truly the Prince who never became the King? Some might agree to this, while others surely won’t. Despite his progress, Ricciardo’s F1 career is under threat. Some rumors also believe that the ‘smiling guy’ of F1 could announce his retirement at the end of the season. Mystery encapsulated the situation.

What is your take on this? Let us know in the comments.