Daniel Ricciardo ruled out from making F1 return by Australia’s last F1 world champion

1980 F1 world champion Alan Jones dismisses the possibility of Daniel Ricciardo making a return to F1.


Daniel Ricciardo ruled out from making F1 return by Australia’s last F1 world champion

Alan Jones, Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo is not racing in Formula 1 in 2023. The Australian driver was forced to vacate his seat at McLaren at the end of the previous season.The 33-year-old aims to race in F1 once again for a competitive team in the future. For 2023, Daniel is the reserve driver for Red Bull. Former F1 champion, Alan Jones believes that Danny Ric will not get the chance to race in the sport once again.

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Jones was adamant that Daniel Ricciardo will not get promoted to a full-time seat at the Austrian team. Unless the current line-up has an issue that could force the team to make a change. Alan stated, “I don’t think he will get a drive at Red Bull unless something happens to the two current drivers, I can’t see him doing a Grand Prix.”

Ricciardo has shifted to a more marketing-centric role at Red Bull for this season

Alan Jones was skeptical over the F1 prospects for Daniel Ricciardo in 2024. He continued, “I doubt [he will be on the grid in 2024].” The former world champion highlighted the fact that Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez look set to continue at Red Bull. With even Ferrari having a stable line-up. Jones continued, “There is probably no reason why Red Bull won’t re-sign Perez and obviously, Verstappen [is locked in] and I can’t see anybody at Ferrari resigning or going away.”

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Alan Jones believes Daniel Ricciardo spent too much time outside of F1

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Ricciardo has even driven Jones’s championship-winning Williams F1 car

The 76-year-old sympathized with the way Daniel Ricciardo’s career trajectory has gone. Moreover, Jones even believes that the Honey Badger doesn’t know the reason for this downfall himself. As Ricciardo struggled to match Lando Norris at McLaren. Alan stated, “Obviously everybody likes to go out on a high note. And it’s just unfortunate that for whatever reason, and I don’t even think he knows himself. Why his performance dropped off.”

The last Australian F1 world champion stood by his claim of the 33-year-old not making it back to the grid. He reaffirmed, “As I said before, I just can’t see him getting back into Formula One.” Jones alleged that Daniel Ricciardo should have focused on racing instead of off-track activities to stay in F1. Alan concluded, “Really, in my own opinion. I think he concentrated and spent a bit too much time for his activities out of the cockpit rather than in it. That’s my opinion.’

Thus, the 1980 F1 world champion believes that Danny Ric will not return to the pinnacle of motorsport. The Australian driver is an eight-time GP winner who was often considered a future world champion. Unfortunately, things have not gone to plan for Daniel Ricciardo. Although, the Honey Badger has not given up and will continue his efforts of coming back to Formula 1 in the future.

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