F1 Insider: Daniel Ricciardo's Formula 1 Career Is Over

"I just can’t see him getting back into Formula 1," says F1 Aussie champ Alan Jones.

Could Daniel Ricciardo's days in F1 driver be numbered? That's the question on many people's minds after former world champion Alan Jones recently shared his thoughts on the matter.

Jones, who is the one of only two Australian's to have ever won the Formula 1 World Championship, gave his honest opinion on Ricciardo's chances of returning to the grid in 2024.

According to Jones, the chances of Ricciardo securing a seat on the grid next season are slim to none, and he believes the 33-year-old's F1 career might be over.

So, what's the reasoning behind Jones' opinion? Let's take a closer look.

Ricciardo's Struggles

It's no secret that Ricciardo's form has been questionable in recent years as he's hopped from team to team, never falling into the right seat at the right time. Despite this, he's been a fan-favourite among viewers who have fallen for his addictive personality and smile. But this hasn't helped him win races.

Jones believes that Ricciardo's poor performances were down to a lack of focus on his part, stating that the Aussie spent too much time on activities outside of the cockpit.

“I don’t think he even knows himself [why his form disappeared]. I just think he went off the boil,” Jones admitted to the Herald Sun.

“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.”

Could McLaren's Struggles Have Affected Ricciardo's Confidence?

Ricciardo's departure from McLaren was always going to be a big deal, but the team's struggles since his exit have been particularly noteworthy. Perhaps, Jones suggests, McLaren's woes have given Ricciardo a feeling that he wasn't the one to blame in the performance he showed on-track last year. 

"Perhaps McLaren's struggles will give Ricciardo the confidence that his poor performances weren't entirely his fault, although there is no questioning that his departure was ultimately the right decision," Jones stated.

Is Ricciardo's F1 Career Over?

So, could Jones be right? Is Ricciardo's F1 career over? Unfortunately, it seems that the odds are stacked against him.

“I don’t think he will get a drive at Red Bull unless something happens to the two current drivers [Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez],” added Jones.

“I can’t see him doing a Grand Prix.

“I doubt [he will be on the grid in 2024]. At the end of the day, there is probably no reason why Red Bull won’t re-sign Perez, and obviously, Verstappen.

“I can’t see anybody at Ferrari resigning or going away, so I just can’t see where he can go.

“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.

“As I said before, I just can’t see him getting back into Formula 1.”

While it's certainly possible that Ricciardo could make a return to the grid at some point in the future, it's looking increasingly unlikely. Fortunately, his talents in front of the camera aren't going to waste as Red Bull utilise the driver for his personality, something it's safe to say we all adore.