Daniel Ricciardo “talking to teams” over F1 stay - George Russell opens door to Mercedes role
The McLaren driver enjoyed a rare positive outing in 2022 at the F1 Mexico City Grand Prix, finishing in P7, but has just two 👍races remaining with his future unclear.
Ricciardo’s contract with McLaren will be terminated a year early and he won’t be in the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:F1 2023 driver line-up, but ꩵhas been linked to a reserve driver role at Mercedes.
“Yeah, i💖t would be interesting,” Russell said to Sky about Ricciardo joining.
“I’d like to see 💟that. We have to see what🎀 he wants to do in the future.”
Merce🌞des team principal Toto Wolff had been spotted wearing Ric♐ciardo’s merchandise but denied that it hinting towards a link-up.
“I am promoting his merch! Honestly I just like🌳 it,” Wolff said. “They took a photo of me and posted it online.”
Ricciardo teased: “I 𒆙gave George a sweater. Toto messaged saying he really liked it so I gave him one too!”
Vacant seats with Alpine, Haas and William🌸s have passed without Ricciardo signing up.
He said about his limited options: “If there wꦺas a lot, I’d probably be in a ra෴ce seat.
“But there is enough to keep me interested.
“I want to stay active to some degree. I’m aware that doin💃g nothing for 🦂a year is not good.”
Ricciardo claimed “I honestly don’t” know which team he will join in 2023 but “the plan” was t𒈔o 🦂remain in F1, albeit not in a race seat.
“I am talking to ꦿteams,” he said. “I stil𒐪l want to keep a foot in the door for 2024.
“Seeing t𓄧he lights go out for race one, I will have an itch!”
Ricciardo sits 12th in the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:F1 standings after being comprehensively outperformed by teammate 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lando Norris all year. He will be replaced by rookie 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Oscar Piastri next season.
“The last two years have been quite hard,” he admitted. “You put a lot in, and when it doesn’t come back, it can 𒁏get you🐈 down.
“I k🅷now the value of a summer break. Stepping away can give you a different perspectiไve.
“The season is pretty relentless, 𝔍you 🌠don’t get a chance to rebuild.
“I truly believe it will be a blessing inꦇ disg🍷uise.
“I can confidently say that I won’t be on the gr🌞id behind ꩵa wheel.
“But I still want to be in the sp🅰ort, working with a team. Still with the ambition to be back on the grid in 2024.
“That’s where my head is at. Time away from a race seat will 𒅌do me🤡 good.
“I’m not done. But it will look different.”
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football,🌼 to F1.
