Haas wanted Ricciardo: 'It would have been tough, but it would have been better'

Jenson Button does not think Daniel Ricciardo would be wise to take a year out of F1. The former world champion expects it to be very difficult for the Australian to return to the sport.

Ricciardo is taking a one-year break from Formula 1 in 2023. His last adventure at McLaren did not turn out to be a success and, despite a number of teams being interested in him, the eight-time race winner has decided to step back. He wants to take a break in 2023, to join a team that can compete for wins in 2024.

Haas rejected

Button has reservations about whether that tactic will work. ''I guess he didn't want to drop too far down the grid and work with a team that's more towards the rear, because it's difficult for a driver coming from a team that is almost winning races at times to suddenly know you're fighting for points. It is tough. But I still think it would have been a better move for him,'' Button told Any Driven Monday.

Haas in particular was interested in the Australian. Ricciardo himself loves America very much and America loves him. Guenther Steiner opened the door wide for Ricciardo, but he did not walk in himself.

Where is Ricciardo going

''Go into a team, work hard, show people what you can do, in a car that maybe suits your car a bit more, and then people forget what happened the year before. That's the issue now, people forget how good Ricciardo is because he's had such a difficult year and a half or two years.''

So choosing to stay out of F1 for a year will not help, according to Button. The Briton believes people will still point to the bad seasons at McLaren because that is the last thing in people's memory. Finding a competitive seat for 2024 will therefore be difficult for Ricciardo.