“None of This is About Ego, Unachievable Demands, or a Sudden Lack of Opportunity”: Daniel Ricciardo’s Rejection of 2023 Offers A Shot in The Dark for F1 Glory

After months of speculation, the last word is in regarding Daniel Ricciardo’s career move. The McLaren star lately made a comeback in the top five at the Singapore Grand Prix. There were talks regarding Ricciardo joining Mercedes as their reserve driver. However, Ricciardo emphasized that he was keeping his options open.

After the announcements made by Alpine and AlphaTauri about signing Pierre Gasly and Nyck de Vries, respectively, most of the options were out the window for the Australian. The Aussie confirmed that he won’t be on the grid officially for the next season in 2023. But he’s focusing on planning a pathway for his career in 2024.

Ricciardo’s agent, Nick Thimm gave some insights on the subject. On the 8th of October, he took to his Twitter and posted, “None of this is about ego, unachievable demands, or a sudden lack of opportunity. This is about a man who was dealt a bad hand, now finding the right next opportunity.”

“Uncovering a new project where he can work with a team that embraces his unique set of skills.his experience can be applied. A process where he can reset and show his love for the game. And ultimately put himself in the best position to show the world what he’s capable of should he be given the chance. It’s a different approach yes, but it’s also a new day for the sport.”

He continued to share that Daniel’s maturity is unique and now, more so than ever. Despite him going away, Thimm said the Honey Badger will stay close to the grid as anything is possible.

Read More: Alpine Reveals Giving Daniel Ricciardo a Shot for 2023 Seat- But What Went Wrong?

What does Daniel Ricciardo have to say about his ordeal?

Daniel Ricciardo is taking a backseat

With Ricciardo’s contract coming to an end with McLaren, Oscar Piastri is set to partner up with Lando Norris. With seats available at Haas and Williams, Daniel has chosen to take a backseat from the racing in the coming season.

Ricciardo shared his thoughts on the subject in interviews post the qualifying session at the Japanese Grand Prix. He said, “I think the reality is now I won‘t be on the grid in 2023, I think it’s now just trying to set up for 2024.”

He strongly believes better opportunities will come in then and he’d like to focus on that.

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Have you been a fan of the Honey Badger? What, in your opinion, is the right move for the Aussie in the coming season?