Formula 1: 5 possible landing spots for Daniel Ricciardo in 2023
By Asher Fair
With Daniel Ricciardo set to be replaced by Oscar Piastri at McLaren after the 2022 Formula 1 season, where will he end up next year?
There has been speculation about what Daniel Ricciardo’s future may hold throughout the 2022 Formula 1 season, even though the 33-year-old Australian has a contract with McLaren that runs through 2023.
Additionally, both Ricciardo and McLaren had stated on multiple occasions that they were committed to each other until the contract’s expiration date.
Nevertheless, the speculation continued, as many believed that there was more to the story. And there was.
McLaren have reportedly informed Ricciardo that they plan to replace him with Oscar Piastri next year.
This news followed Alpine’s announcement that they had signed Piastri to replace two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who is set to replace four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin. Piastri responded by saying that the announcement was false and that he won’t be competing for Alpine next year.
So with Ricciardo’s stint at McLaren set to end after just two of the initially scheduled three years, where will he end up in 2023? Here are five possibilities.
Possible Daniel Ricciardo 2023 landing spots: No. 1 – Alpine
With Oscar Piastri having spurned the team for McLaren, Alpine still have a seat open alongside Esteban Ocon for 2023. While Ricciardo left Alpine, then known as Renault, to join McLaren following the 2020 season, they have made clear that they would be open to having him and that this isn’t a “burnt bridges” situation.
Ricciardo signed with McLaren for the 2021 season before the 2020 season even started, as Carlos Sainz Jr., then driving for the Woking-based team, signed with Ferrari around the same time.
While he did win at Monza in September 2021, delivering McLaren their only win since 2012, his two-year stint at Renault was a lot more productive than his two-year stint at McLaren, and a return would be his best option at this point.