How (un)realistic is a Ricciardo comeback in 2024?

After Pierre Gasly's contract at Alpine was officially confirmed, Daniel Ricciardo knew enough: for the first time, the Australian admitted he will not be on the grid in 2023. He himself hopes for a 2024 comeback. But how realistic is that?

British comedian Conor Moore is undoubtedly baulking. He regularly imitates Formula 1 drivers on his YouTube channel and certainly, Ricciardo knows how to aptly portray Moore. Without Ricciardo, a successful method for his videos disappears, but certainly so does Formula 1. No doubt it will soon get used to not having Ricciardo around after 11 years.

Looking ahead

Ricciardo, who is leaving McLaren, hopes it is not a final farewell and is targeting a seat in 2024. That sounds ambitious, but looks set to be as tough as it was for 2023. Top teams Red Bull Racing and Ferrari have each also committed their drivers for 2024 (Verstappen/Perez and Leclerc/Sainz respectively). McLaren - for obvious reasons - are not an option for Ricciardo in '24. Aston Martin has Fernando Alonso under contract for that season, while it must be very strange if Lance Stroll (son of the owner) is not sitting next to the Spaniard by then.

AlphaTauri on Saturday contracted Nyck de Vries for several years, the Dutchman himself revealed. His new teammate Yuki Tsunoda is only committed for 2023, so there could potentially be a spot in Red Bull's junior team. Only it seems unlikely that Helmut Marko and consorts would fall back on a then 34-year-old driver, who is anything but a fresh talent anymore when Tsunoda is sent off.

Not forgotten

Alpine will start with Esteban Ocon and Gasly in 2023. Definitely not friends, but French. The latter, of course, is great publicity for the French brand domestically. Ocon's contract expires after next year, so there may be room for Ricciardo then. But Alpine have not forgotten how Ricciardo left the team for McLaren a few years ago. Moreover, a seat was vacant for a long time before next season, after Alonso announced his departure. Many names were mentioned as his successor. Ricciardo was not among them. Why would this possibly be different in a year's time?

For Haas and Williams, the same is actually true. Leaving aside whether Ricciardo himself feels like driving for the paddock's smallest teams, they too never had the Australian in mind for next season. Not now, would it be next year? Unlikely.

Not test driver at Mercedes

There were rumours that Ricciardo was in the picture to be a test and reserve driver at Mercedes next year. There were even said to have been talks. But the chances of a deal indeed coming to fruition are nil, according to the latest reports. A reserve role next year could have been a nice stepping stone to replace Lewis Hamilton in 2024. Except that Mercedes hinted last week that Hamilton wants to continue for years to come.

The only (?) option

Is there really no team where Ricciardo could possibly go in 2024? Well, one: Alfa Romeo. Guanyu Zhou has another one-year contract at the racing stable, for which he made his debut this season. Zhou is not a super talent, but would not be out of place in Formula 1 either. In doing so, he is commercially and financially interesting for the team, which will continue under the original Sauber name in 2024. Valtteri Bottas also has a commitment that expires at the end of 2023. In a year's time, Sauber may want to swap one routine driver (Bottas) for another (Ricciardo). Could. But in a lesser car than the McLaren, the Finn has scored 15 more points than Ricciardo so far this season.

Five more Grands Prix and then Ricciardo's adventure in Formula 1 will be over. Temporary? It may just turn out to be a final farewell.