Ricciardo confirms: 'In talks with team about reserve role'

For Daniel Ricciardo, the countdown has really started. Four more lights go green for him and his career in Formula 1 is over. For good? At least in 2023, there is no seat for the Australian. Therefore, to avoid being completely out of the picture, he seems to be opting for a role as a reserve driver.

But where will Ricciardo end up? It was previously rumoured that he would become Mercedes' reserve driver, but that story has since been relegated to the realm of fantasy. The Race now reports that Ricciardo has found a team after all where he will become the third man. At a remarkable team, it is fair to say: Red Bull Racing. After all, it was Red Bull that Ricciardo surprisingly left for Renault a few years ago. A move that Red Bull team boss Christian Horner never understood.

In talks

Ricciardo confirms he is in talks with a team, although he is otherwise keeping quiet. "For now, everything’s just rumours. Am I talking? Yes, but there’s no pen on paper or anything like that," the McLaren driver explained. He does add that he expects to be in Formula 1 next season because of his determination.

It also seems logical for Ricciardo to become a reserve driver at one of the top three teams. After all, Alpine and McLaren rejected him, and being the third man at a small team is anything but an enticing prospect for Ricciardo. So Mercedes already dropped out, which would leave Ferrari and Red Bull. Ferrari, however, already have plenty of reserves, such as Antonio Giovinazzi and Robert Shwartzman.