The biggest upset for the 2023 season for any fan would be the absence of the Honey Badger, Daniel Ricciardo. Being an F1 regular ever since his HRT debut in 2011, the Australian will not be a part of the F1 grid this year after his acrimonious split with McLaren just 2 years into his contract. That being said, Ricciardo is down, but he surely isn’t out. He took the conscious decision of stepping away from the grid for a year to be able to come back, hopefully, in winning machinery. Step 1 of his agenda was to fly back to his ‘home’, Red Bull. The Australian will be the Milton-Keynes-based outfit’s reserve driver for 2023. But this may just be a strategic ploy to get back into the big leagues for the man from Perth.

Being back in the Red Bull family has a few perks. Naturally, getting back into the stable of Red Bull drivers would mean that if the right opportunity presents itself, we may see the Honey Badger back in the racing seat. But that’s a long shot. In the short term though, Ricciardo plans to use the proximity to reigning champion Max Verstappen, and some extensive simulator time to build himself back up and in shape to hopefully challenge for that elusive title his talents deserve.

During the Red Bull launch on the 3rd of February in New York, ESPN sat down with Ricciardo to discuss the 2023 season. During the session, he was asked about his simulator duties and his reunion with Verstappen. Ricciardo began by saying, “Currently, he’s the best reference. But also for me as a reference of you know what was a competitive teammate rivalry between us.”

The 33-year-old aims to get an inside line on the 2x champion. “That’s where I’m also like curious to see where I currently kinda stand. You know, I remember things about his driving style and what he would do so…also, now to see all the data and kind of understand, is he just a refined version or has he changed somethings along the way over the last few years.”

Safe to say, Ricciardo has his eyes set firmly on the big prize. “It’s kinda cool ’cause I can see it all, but it’s all at a distance. I can get as deep into it as I want. And probably do as much ‘simulator’ as I want till I drive myself dizzy!” 

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Back in his heyday with Red Bull, Ricciardo was often touted to be as fast, if not faster than Verstappen. But are the doors to Red Bull Racing’s racing seat completely shut for the Australian?

Christian Horner opens up on Daniel Ricciardo and his Red Bull future

When Daniel Ricciardo signed up with Red Bull at the end of 2022, many hoped that this would mean a race seat for him in the future. That being said, Formula 1 is a cruel sport, and you don’t often get a second chance here.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has apparently slammed the door shut on a full-time role for Ricciardo. He told Formula1.com, “I hope in the process, Daniel will rediscover his passion for Formula 1, but we certainly have no plans to utilize him other than in that third driver role, to combine with the commercial activities that he will be performing.”

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Nothing is ever set in stone in F1. If Daniel Ricciardo does return to Red Bull in a full-time capacity, how will he fare against the dominant Max Verstappen?