Daniel Ricciardo Speaks Out On F1 Return As He Watches Home Race From Sidelines

Daniel Ricciardo has spoken out on his potential return to the F1 grid.

Daniel Ricciardo has given fans an update on his future within F1 ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. 

The Australian driver has been a fan-favourite for many years, especially with the popularity of Netflix's Drive to Survive. McLaren revealed during the 2022 season that they would be parting ways with Ricciardo and after he was not able to secure another permanent seat for 2023, he returned to Red Bull as their third driver.

There has been a huge amount of speculation over whether fans will see a return of Ricciardo to the grid in a full-time capacity next year, and he has now given the media an update on his position. He explained:

"I've actually weirdly found that the days that I've had no schedule, they're the days that I've actually done training.

"It's not being my own boss but kind of writing my own schedule has actually brought out a lot of things in me.

"I thought I'll just sit on the couch and watch movies all day and eat junk food, but I'm not. That's not me. So even these things made me realise how much I do care about it.

"The signs are pointing towards getting back on the grid.

"I feel like that's currently where I'm tracking, at least in my head, and just a little few other habits that I'm having or doing is pointed towards that."

Ricciardo has returned to the pit this weekend for what would have been his home race. When asked how he felt to be back, he explained:

"The fizz is there. I'm also content being here this weekend and not racing. I'm content just being part of the team.

"I'm kind of in a position now, I'm happy to learn from the outside because I think I will see more. I feel like I still need a bit of this time to understand a little more, with the perspective I've got to kind of complete me as a driver moving forward. So I'm not yet chomping at the bit to get in the car but it does feel good to be here.

"I'm going to sit on the pit wall during the sessions and I'm sure I'll be like watching the drivers pull out of the pits and be like 'oh, it would be cool to be in the car'.

"But I'm not yet foaming at the mouth. I'm still just trying to be a sponge.

"I see the advantage, of course; every driver on the grid now has the advantage of being behind the wheel. But I have the advantage of looking at it through a wide-angle lens."