'As a driver and Formula One fan, I want to see Hamilton back on the grid'

The new season is approaching and it looks like Lewis Hamilton will just show up on the grid. Daniel Ricciardo is happy to see that Hamilton will probably return, but he still feels very sorry for the Brit.

One more month and the new Formula 1 season will start, but in the meantime the discussions are mainly about last season. The FIA is currently conducting a major investigation, the results of which will be discussed before the new season starts.

The possible departure of the seven-time world champion has been discussed several times in recent months and the Australian himself was concerned that the champion would not return. Nevertheless, he expects to see the Mercedes driver back on the grid as usual and he is very happy about that. "He was quiet for a while and had to take a break, but as a driver and as a Formula One fan I want to see him back on the grid," Ricciardo is quoted by NextGen Car at McLaren's car launch.

Abu Dhabi

The McLaren driver is good friends with Max Verstappen and will therefore be happy for him, but it is clear that he is not satisfied with the way last season ended. It seemed that the 37-year-old driver had a big lead and as if everything was in his favor, but after the restart everything changed. "At that moment I was sure that Lewis couldn't do anything. I felt sorry for him: he was just a few laps away from the title and after that decision there was nothing he could do," he says.

Despite not being satisfied with the season finale, the Australian driver did express his support for Michael Masi. The decision he made there is not enough reason to fire him, according to him. If Masi wants to stay, he should be able to.