Formula 1: 3 possible landing spots for Daniel Ricciardo in 2021

Ferrari

Daniel Ricciardo had been linked to a Ferrari seat for the 2019 season had he left Red Bull Racing. Then he made the shocking decision to leave the Milton Keynes-based team for Renault, and there are rumors that he won’t return there in 2021.

In fact, team managing director Cyril Abiteboul stated last season after they signed Esteban Ocon to replace Nico Hulkenberg for the 2020 season that they may look to pair Ocon with a younger driver for 2021 and beyond.

Here is what he had to say, according to RaceFans.

"“It was important when given the opportunity to seize the opportunity of a complete driver in Daniel last year and we don’t regret that at Renault. Just like right now we think it’s the right moment to start having some fresher blood. “I think it’s a trend actually you can see in several teams. We are also interested in young drivers with our academy. We hope and expect to have possibly one driver from that academy by 2021. So it’s also a shift of dynamic to start really welcoming young drivers in our line-up. “It’s not something that we would have been capable of doing two years ago but I think with more maturity in the team we can now envisage that. And that would be a good test to see if we are capable of also managing that because it’s a different type of management. Managing some who is 20, 22 or in his thirties, that’s different.”"

Given the bitter relationship between Red Bull Racing and Renault, which led to the former switching engine manufacturers from Renault to Honda ahead of the 2019 season after 12 years together, it is quite possible that Renault only signed Ricciardo to get back at Red Bull Racing.

If that is the case, they may effectively be admitting that they aren’t good enough for him, but without actually saying it. Keep in mind that his contract was the third largest in the sport last year. Is that really worth it for a team competing in the mid-pack?

This could perfectly set up a move to Ferrari. Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel is out of a contract following the 2020 season, and given his abundance recent struggles, which has included enough points thrown away to cost him two world championships, a near-suspension and a ridiculous and completely unnecessary run-in with Charles Leclerc, there is speculation that he may not be back with the team in 2021, even though team principal Mattia Binotto has stated that their goal is to bring him back.

Naturally, Ricciardo has been linked to his seat should the Scuderia not bring him back.

But if Ricciardo leaves Renault and does not end up at Ferrari, be it if Vettel returns or somebody else replaces him, where else might he end up?