Daniel Ricciardo Could Ditch Papaya Orange for Alpine Blue With a Surprise Plot Twist in F1 Driver Market

The retirement of Sebastian Vettel and Aston Martin’s announcement of Fernando Alonso as his replacement has got the transfer carousel up and running. In the meantime, interesting rumors of driver moves in the paddock have started trickling out.

Australian driver, Daniel Ricciardo’s rumored return to Alpine, is one move that has fans scratching their heads. After Fernando Alonso’s departure to Aston Martin, many fans believed that 2021 F2 champion and Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri would be given the seat.

However, reports from French publication AutoHebdo suggest that Ricciardo could potentially be returning to Alpine after leaving them for McLaren at the end of the 2020 season. However, Ricciardo is contracted to McLaren till the 2023 season and has continued to struggle since his arrival. This could very well prompt the Aussie to jump ship once his contract ends.

However, Ricciardo recently reassured fans of his commitment to McLaren. He wrote on social media, “I’m committed to McLaren until the end of next year and am not walking away from the sport.” The driver went on to add “Appreciate it hasn’t always been easy, but who wants easy?!”

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In the meantime, Ricciardo has continued to struggle this season. Ricciardo has once again fallen behind teammate Lando Norris in the driver’s standings.

Daniel Ricciardo continues to face troubles with his 2022 machinery

Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren switch has not gone to plan for the Aussie. The driver made the move from Renault, now called Alpine, in the hopes of fighting for victories and podiums. However, so far Riccardo’s performances have been sub-par, and he has been constantly bettered by teammate Lando Norris.

His struggles in 2022 have even prompted him to label the MCL36 one of the “certainly one of the most” difficult cars he’s driven in F1.

Riccardo also spoke about the difficulties at the Hungarian GP last weekend. He said, “I think today with the wind, these cars are so sensitive, that probably does make it more hard to find that consistency but I guess, when it’s on more of a knife-edge, when there’s more variables, that’s where it starts to become that step more difficult.”

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However, there have been rumors of the Aussie moving to Alpine at the end of his contract at McLaren. Ricciardo will be hoping that his results improve.