Daniel Ricciardo’s future in Formula 1 has been the subject of a bit of speculation as of late. Where will he end up for the 2023 season?
While Daniel Ricciardo is under contract with McLaren through the 2023 Formula 1 season, an overall lack of performance and poor form has led to speculation that he could end up elsewhere next year instead.
Ricciardo did deliver the team their first win since 2012 at Monza last year, and in doing so, he led the 2021 season’s only 1-2 finish — and McLaren’s first since 2010. But aside from that race, there hasn’t been much to write home about regarding his stint with the team.
What’s next for the 32-year-old Australian? Here are three possible landing spots for next year.
Daniel Ricciardo landing spots: No. 1 – McLaren (Formula 1)
The obvious option for Daniel Ricciardo in 2023 is the McLaren Formula 1 team, given the fact that he is literally under contract with the team through the 2023 season and has been under contract with the team through the 2023 season since signing his deal ahead of the 2021 campaign.
The fact that the 2022 season is still young could play to his advantage, as it should give him plenty of opportunities to try to turn his season around and prove that he is still capable of delivering for the team and performing at a high level, even if not quite on the level of rising star teammate Lando Norris.
Plus, while there are indeed “mechanisms” by which the deal between Ricciardo and the Woking-based team can be ended early, those mechanisms have not been publicized. Who is it really up to? As of now, the contract reads 2023.
Daniel Ricciardo landing spots: No. 2 – Arrow McLaren SP (IndyCar)
Here’s where things could get interesting. McLaren entered IndyCar in 2020 by partnering with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports to form Arrow McLaren SP, and Arrow McLaren SP have run a two-car team since then. However, it has long been seen as only a matter of time before they run three cars full-time, and that is set to happen next year.
While the team have confirmed that Alexander Rossi, who currently competes for Andretti Autosport, is set to join the team for 2023, it has not been confirmed whether he is actually going to be their third driver.
Pato O’Ward recently signed a contract extension to continue driving the #5 Chevrolet. Felix Rosenqvist, who currently drives the #7 Chevrolet, signed an extension as well, but his contract does not necessarily tie him to McLaren’s IndyCar team. So he could still be replaced.
Tony Kanaan recently stated that “people will fall off their chairs” when they know who Arrow McLaren SP’s third driver will be for 2022, and he said it in response to a question asking whether it would be Rosenqvist or Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay, the two names that had been most commonly linked to the seat. Kanaan stated that it would be neither.
While Kanaan’s quote led some to speculate that it could be Alex Palou or Scott Dixon, since Kanaan is a member of Chip Ganassi Racing, both drivers brushed off those rumors and indicated that they are not speaking to other teams for a 2023 ride.
Daniel Ricciardo moving to Arrow McLaren SP would make perfect sense, if indeed “neither” is the answer to the Rosenqvist/VeeKay question and Palou stays put.
This would prevent Ricciardo and McLaren from totally cutting ties early, and it would also give him a totally new platform where he could aim to rejuvenate his racing career, all while allowing McLaren to pursue a number two driver in Formula 1 who is more along the lines of what they’re looking for.
Daniel Ricciardo landing spots: No. 3 – Neom McLaren (Formula E)
Another option to prevent Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren from cutting ties early would be Ricciardo joining McLaren’s Formula E team, which is set to debut in the 2022-2023 season.
McLaren are entering Formula E by acquiring the Mercedes-EQ team. They plan to compete with Nissan powertrains, and they plan to do so as the Neom McLaren Formula E Team. They have not named either one of their two drivers yet.
As mentioned on the previous slide, McLaren recently signed Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar driver Felix Rosenqvist to a contract extension for 2023. However, that deal doesn’t necessarily tie him to the IndyCar program; he could end up competing for the organization’s Formula E team instead.
Could McLaren work out something similar with Ricciardo, since he is already under contract with the team for 2023?
This option, like the IndyCar option, would also give Ricciardo a totally new platform where he could attempt to rejuvenate his racing career, and it would allow McLaren the opportunity to look for a new Formula 1 teammate for Lando Norris.
It might also make more sense, given some of Ricciardo’s past comments about IndyCar, specifically about racing on ovals.
Where will Daniel Ricciardo end up in 2023? Will he stay put at McLaren? If so, will it be in Formula 1, IndyCar, or Formula E? If not, will he find another Formula 1 seat?