Formula 1: Daniel Ricciardo set to become a free agent after 2020

Renault do not have an option to retain Daniel Ricciardo for the 2021 Formula 1 season, confirming that he is indeed slated to become a free agent.

When Daniel Ricciardo made the shocking decision to leave Red Bull Racing and sign with Renault after the 2018 Formula 1 season, he did so by signing a two-year contract with the French marque.

Renault, which recently signed Esteban Ocon as Ricciardo’s teammate for the 2020 season, have confirmed that the 30-year-old Australian is free to walk once the season ends, as they do not have an option to retain him for the 2021 season.

Here is what team advisor and four-time world champion Alain Prost had to say about the matter to Canal Plus.

"“Daniel has a contract until the end of 2020. So he is free. We don’t have the cards in our hands. We don’t have an option.”"

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This has been believed to be the case pretty much for Ricciardo’s entire tenure at Renault, especially late last year when team managing director Cyril Abiteboul all but wrote off bringing him back in 2021 by hinting that they would like to move forward with a younger lineup now that Ocon is under contract through 2021.

Abiteboul echoed the same sentiment when discussing the possibility of signing four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel from Ferrari, and he even named Christian Lundgaard as a potential replacement for the Honey Badger.

Vettel and Ferrari have since confirmed that they will go their separate ways after the 2020 season, so this news about Ricciardo is particularly significant.

Ricciardo has not ruled out returning to Red Bull Racing, but that simply may not be a possibility with Alexander Albon coming into his own alongside Max Verstappen and with Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly performing well at Red Bull sister team AlphaTauri.

Prost echoed that sentiment while stating that if Ricciardo does want to continue at Renault, they would be open about it.

"“Max Verstappen is completely anchored at Red Bull [through 2023] so I don’t see Daniel going there. But with us things are very open, and in any case what is certain is that in a certain way Daniel wants to continue. He made – not a bet – but let’s say a plan to be successful with Renault and for the moment we are talking in a very positive way.”"

Unlike Abiteboul, however, Prost is not sold on promoting a younger driver, especially since the coronavirus pandemic has prevented the 2020 season from getting underway.

"“We don’t even know what’s going to happen for Formula 2 or Formula 3 or Formula Renault, where there are a lot of drivers in the sector and they can’t drive. So if they don’t race, then you can’t see them – you can’t judge them. It is valid for everyone and so the trend in the teams is a little more on the side of status quo.”"

But Ricciardo has also been seen as the most likely replacement candidate for Vettel at Ferrari, and now that both have been confirmed as free agents following the 2020 season, this will be a situation to monitor closely. Could he end up alongside Charles Leclerc next year?

Even if that doesn’t end up happening, McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr. would likely end up replacing Vettel, meaning that a seat at McLaren would open up. Ricciardo and McLaren were reportedly “very close” to reaching a deal for 2019 before Ricciardo ended up at Renault. Could he end up alongside Lando Norris next year instead?

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If Daniel Ricciardo does not re-sign with Renault for the 2021 Formula 1 season, which he is not expected to, he is slated to become arguably the hottest free agent on the market. Where will he end up, and if he leaves Renault, who will replace him?

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