“Something I Would Look At”: Targeting a Red Bull Return, Daniel Ricciardo Ready to Swallow His Pride With a Major Compromise

Amidst ongoing discussions about Daniel Ricciardo‘s future in Formula 1, a potential compromise has emerged as the Australian driver expresses openness to joining AlphaTauri in 2024. Having experienced a turbulent period at McLaren, where younger teammate Lando Norris consistently outscored him, Ricciardo’s contract with the team was terminated prematurely. Seeking a path back to a dream Red Bull seat, Daniel Ricciardo is showing eagerness to return to the top of the grid which may lead him to reconsider his preferences.

But will AlphaTauri give him the top of the grid? Following his departure from McLaren, Ricciardo has embraced the role of reserve driver at Red Bull, eagerly awaiting an opportunity for a comeback to the top. Rejecting an offer from Haas due to their inability to challenge for race wins, Ricciardo maintains his focus on securing a seat in a top team. With Nyck de Vries facing uncertainty at AlphaTauri, a seat could potentially open up for Ricciardo at Red Bull’s sister team, providing a potential stepping stone toward his fairytale ending.

In an exclusive interview with Crash.net, Ricciardo admitted his willingness to consider driving for AlphaTauri next year, but with a condition. He stated, “If it’s like ‘this is you and you are signing a three-year deal and that’s the only place you are going to be’, then no, that’s maybe not the deal I would look for.”

However, he added, “If that creates a path to get back here (Red Bull) then yeah it’s something I would look at because ultimately this is the place where I want to get back to.” Ricciardo’s hunger to return to a top team, perform under pressure, and contend for victories and podium finishes remains a driving force in his decision-making process.

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Daniel Ricciardo’s readiness to make a significant compromise reflects his strong desire to secure a seat with Red Bull Racing. The question now would be whether his compromise will pay off and lead him back to the top of the grid, where he truly wants to be, but a bigger question is if AlphaTauri is considering Ricciardo for their potential change.

IndyCar Star Alex Palou Emerges as a Potential AlphaTauri Contender

Amidst the swirling rumors of driver changes in Formula 1, Scuderia AlphaTauri finds itself at the center of speculation. One intriguing rumor involves IndyCar sensation Alex Palou to replace Nyck de Vries, who reportedly has a contractual window to make a leap from IndyCar to F1 before it closes. Dr. Helmut Marko, known for his keen eye for talent, is said to be interested in Palou and may offer him a seat at AlphaTauri when the IndyCar season concludes in September.

Such a move could pave the way for Palou’s progression to Red Bull Racing in the future, crashing Ricciardo’s desire for a fairytale ending to his F1 career with Red Bull. RBR with the least secure seat on the grid and with a preference for new and young talent makes Ricciardo’s comeback unlikely. Moreover, the recent resurgence of Sergio Perez, demonstrated by his impressive performance in the Austrian Grand Prix, raises questions about the need for a driver change at Red Bull Racing.

The lingering question remains: Will Daniel Ricciardo step in as the strong number two driver Red Bull Racing seeks, while their junior drivers are being prepared for the future?

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