“Just Two Years Ago, He Was the Next World Champion”: Sacked Daniel Ricciardo Given Painful Reality Check as F1 Return Reeks of Uncertainty

Daniel Ricciardo ended his F1 journey with McLaren at the end of this season in Abu Dhabi. The Australian driver drove his last race at the Yas Marina Circuit this past weekend and finished in P9. The Honey Badger hasn’t had a decent run in the last two years, and a former F1 champion weighed in with his thoughts on the subject.

Former F1 driver, Nico Rosberg, commented on Daniel Ricciardo’s performance on the track in the past two years. He was confused as to why the Aussie struggled to accumulate points for himself. With him finishing 11th, 4 spots and 85 points behind teammate, Lando Norris, Nico wonders what held the Aussie back.

In a recent interview with Sky Sports F1, he said, “I don’t think he really had any other choice. Yes there was still Haas’ option, but that’s not what he drives for. He’s racing to be competitive and fast and he’s really driving for points and possibly podiums.” [Translated by Google]

“It’s a tough one with Daniel. Only two years ago he was the next world champion, but now he is leaving the sport this way. That’s very heavy. It’s hard to understand why he struggled with the car’s performance,” he concluded.

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After his stint as a racer and a world champion, Nico Rosberg has been an important presence in the sport as Sky Sports’ pundit.

Nico Rosberg praises Daniel Ricciardo for the driver that he is

Most of Nico’s surprise in regard to Daniel’s performance comes into play because the former racer thinks highly of the Australian.

Further, in the interview, the German said, “The performance we are used to seeing from him because he is the one who beat Sebastian Vettel in the same car, that’s important to remember.”

“He’s a fantastic driver, so it’s strange to understand that he’s struggled with different cars over the past two years. He couldn’t deliver and I don’t understand.”

To conclude the topic, the former champion hopes that Daniel Ricciardo would get the much-needed rest, to eventually find a way back on the grid officially. He believes that the Aussie can come back stronger and looks forward to when that happens.

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The Honey Badger has delivered some memorable performances in the past few years, however, the last two years haven’t served him as well as he’d hoped for. Here’s looking forward to when he chooses to return to the track, as the man himself admitted, that he wasn’t done with F1 just yet.