F1 News: Daniel Ricciardo Lost Chance At Red Bull Seat, Says Former Driver

Daniel Ricciardo, despite showing potential, might have missed his chance to join Red Bull Racing

Former Australian Formula One driver Alan Jones has expressed doubts about Daniel Ricciardo's prospects of joining Red Bull, suggesting that the Australian driver may have missed his opportunity. This statement comes amidst a season where Ricciardo served as a reserve driver and faced various challenges, including an injury, before finally gaining a seat at AlphaTauri.

Key Takeaways:

• Ricciardo's Challenges and Opportunities: In 2023, Daniel Ricciardo started as a reserve driver for Red Bull Racing. Despite limited driving, he showed promise in several races, leading to speculation about a transfer to Red Bull in 2024. However, an injury at Zandvoort and a 17th place finish in the drivers' championship marked significant setbacks.
• Sergio Perez's Difficult Season: Sergio Perez, current Red Bull driver, faced difficulties throughout the season, including being outperformed by teammate Max Verstappen and suffering notable car damage. This situation fueled rumours of Ricciardo possibly replacing Perez.
• Alan Jones' Perspective: Australian F1 legend Alan Jones commented on Ricciardo's situation, stating that he may have lost the chance of rejoining Red Bull. Jones highlighted Ricciardo's distraction with external factors and emphasized the need for him to focus on his driving skills.

In 2023, Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian F1 driver known as the 'Honey Badger', had to navigate a challenging season. He began the year as a reserve driver for Red Bull Racing, a role less prominent than his previous positions in the sport, allowing him to rehone his skills and confidence behind the wheel. 

A mid-season silly season saw Nyck de Vries leaving AlphaTauri, and this led to the Australian driver taking over the seat alongside teammate Yuki Tsunoda. However, an unfortunate wrist injury at Zandvoort curtailed his racing, impacting his performance and standings in the championship.

Sergio Perez, the Mexican driver for Red Bull, also had a turbulent season. Despite being a six-time race winner and finishing second in the 2023 season, Perez was overshadowed by his teammate Max Verstappen and suffered the most significant car damage in the season alongside Williams' Logan Sargeant. These circumstances intensified rumours of a potential replacement, with Ricciardo's name frequently being mentioned.

The situation reached a turning point when Alan Jones, an Australian F1 icon, weighed in on Ricciardo's prospects. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jones expressed skepticism about Ricciardo's chances of returning to Red Bull. 

He said: 

"I honestly believe Daniel's probably lost the chance of getting back to Red Bull." Jones attributed part of Ricciardo's struggles to being too preoccupied with distractions outside of racing.

He commented:

"I think he even realised that he was probably being... not led astray, but I think he was letting his mind wander a little bit on other things other than Formula 1, and he needs to get back to the core of what he's good at, and that's driving a Formula 1 car."

Despite the setbacks, Ricciardo's future in F1 remains a topic of interest. The seat next to Verstappen for the 2025 season is still up for grabs according to team principal Christian Horner, and it remains to be seen if Ricciardo can rekindle his past successes and secure a prominent position once again.