Formula 1: Daniel Ricciardo back full-time in 2024?

As Daniel Ricciardo watches on from the sidelines during the 2023 Formula 1 season, the Australian is looking to earn a full-time seat for 2024.

After mutually agreeing to part ways with McLaren during the middle of the 2022 Formula 1 season for 2023, Daniel Ricciardo received a massive payout of $18 million.

Unfortunately, he was not able to sign on as a full-time driver with another team. But Ricciardo went back to Red Bull as a third driver, the place where his career took off.

Red Bull will not be giving the Australian the chance to drive at any practice sessions this year. But his main duties will be on the simulator to provide data for the team, and he also plans to participate in some tire tests. The team are happy to have him back, as his experience and pedigree are seen as a boost.

Despite track time being held to a bare minimum this season, can Daniel Ricciardo make his way back into Formula 1?

Well, after his departure from Red Bull in 2018, he did not have the best of experiences with Renault and McLaren, spending two years at each. Ricciardo’s struggles on the track led to subpar performances and were not up to the standards set forth by the teams.

A year away from the constant pressures he was facing may do him some good. During his final season with McLaren, Ricciardo was facing some off-the-track issues which affected his performance on the track.

His mental health took a hit, and he admitted that the his two years in the sport had taken a significant toll, to the point he was not his “usual bubbly self”.

However, there is definitely a way back to the grid for the Aussie. Ricciardo is the best and most experienced third/reserve driver in Formula 1. The entire grid knows how much talent he holds and how successful he can be on the track. If a good opportunity comes about for Ricciardo, things may turn out in his favor as we inch closer to the 2024 season.

There are some teams that could potentially welcome him with open arms. Those could be Haas, Red Bull, Alfa Romeo, or even AlphaTauri. All four teams have at least one driver with an uncertain future. If just one of those drivers does not meet their team’s expectations, that could be the ideal opportunity for the Australian to rejuvenate his career.

The possibility of the eight-time race winner returning to the grid is ever so present. But for now, Ricciardo will work hard in his role as Red Bull’s third driver.