Daniel Ricciardo says he feels for Oscar Piastri in ‘messy situation’

Newly announced Red Bull reserve driver opens up about his new role as Red Bull’s reserve driver and his plans for 2024.

Daniel Ricciardo waves to the crowd on the drivers parade prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil in November. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Daniel Ricciardo has declared he harbours no ill-feelings towards Oscar Piastri or his manager Mark Webber, describing criticism of the new McLaren driver as “harsh” after losing his Formula 1 seat to the young Australian.

As he opened up on his decision to take on the third driver role at his former team for Red Bull for 2023, Ricciardo said he felt for Piastri for “getting some stick” after he landed the eight-time race winner’s seat at McLaren.

Ricciardo said it was a “shame” the proud moment in Piastri’s fledgling F1 career had been spoiled by the reaction to his signing.

After a messy contract stoush with Alpine – where he was the 2022 reserve driver – Piastri was confirmed as Ricciardo’s replacement at McLaren after the British team sacked the affable Australian in August with a year still to run on his contract.

Piastri made his debut for McLaren at the team’s post-season test in Abu Dhabi last week with many Formula 1 fans still lamenting Ricciardo’s exit from the team on social media.

But Ricciardo said Piastri had not created the situation and he did not feel like he had been undermined by his Australian F1 compatriots.

“It was just how the chips fell,” Ricciardo said on In the Fast Lane podcast.

“He was in the situation, but it’s not like he created the situation. It was just a product of all these things happening and then, okay, he’s the guy, and that’s it. Of course Mark has a job to do as well, trying to find his driver a seat.

Ricciardo and Piastri in 2020. Piastri will replace Ricciardo at McLaren in 2023. (Pic: Supplied)

“I get how people were like, ‘Oh, you know, doing that to another Aussie!’, and blah, blah, blah, but I certainly didn’t view it like that or take it as it kind of seemed from the outside.

“We were all just trying to do the best we could.”

Despite losing his seat to Piastri, Ricciardo said he felt for the F1 rookie over the response his signing received.

“I definitely felt for him. And look, don’t get me wrong, of course my career was kind of in a way going t**s up, so I was certainly very occupied on myself and trying to figure out what I was going to do, but at the same time I was aware of some of the comments and stuff that were going towards him,” Ricciardo said.

“I felt for him because for a few reasons, it should be the biggest moment of your life getting into Formula 1. It’s a dream come true. If it really can’t be enjoyed or celebrated, it’s a bit of a shame.

“No one really knows him yet as a driver …. as an individual. It’s a little harsh that he is getting some stick when people are making their own assumptions. So yeah, I felt for him.

“More as I said that this should be one of the proudest moments of his career, not something that he is scared to talk about.”

It was confirmed last week Ricciardo would return to the team where he made his name as a seven-time race winner as the third driver for Red Bull next year.

Ricciardo described it as a “warm and cosy” feeling to be back at the team he left in 2018.

He said he planned to attend between six to eight F1 races next year and would also help the team with simulator work and marketing.

Explaining his decision to return to Red Bull, Ricciardo said the familiarity of returning to the team was what he needed after several challenging years at Alpine and McLaren.

Ricciardo said there had also been talks with Mercedes about a reserve driver role, but a return to Red Bull “made more sense”.

Ricciardo was let go by McLaren after the 2022 season. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

“Once we connected with Red Bull, I was appreciative of them giving me the time because they don’t owe me anything,” he said.

“I was probably a little surprised because they seemed as excited as me, and as soon as we started talking, I was like ‘How does this not make sense’?

“I have jumped around a little bit the last few years and maybe a bit of familiarity would be good for me to just go back and work with people I have worked with before and I appreciate the cars have changed now, but a car that I obviously gelled very well with.

“It just felt that this was probably the environment that will just settle me in best and make me figure out what is the next step beyond this and what I really want after ‘23.”

Ricciardo said his reaction to missing the thrill of competition would dictate his plans beyond next year.

“I would be very, very surprised if I watched races (next year), especially when I’m at the track and I’m not wishing I was out there and not wishing I was competing,” Ricciardo said.

“That’s the beauty in next year …. it’ll give me that hard answer to what I truly want.

“I could watch round one and I’ll be like ‘I don’t want to sit out this whole year’ and that will build into something probably really positive for me.

Ricciardo returns to his former team Red Bull as a reserve driver in the 2023 season. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

“If an opportunity arises for ‘24, I feel like I’ll be foaming at the mouth.”

Ricciardo said the F1 comebacks of Fernando Alonso and Kevin Magnussen has given him reassurance that his move to take time away from full-time racing could work.

“I know myself better than anyone knows me and I know what I need or what I feel will help me, I have confidence in taking the year off because I know what good it will do for me,” Ricciardo said.

“But, of course, when you see other examples, and pretty good examples like Alonso or Magnussen for example, that is reassuring. We are all wired differently and a year off could have a different effect on all of us.

“I look at Alonso, someone who loves racing all the time and him having that time off and coming back, I feel like for me to really remove myself more than he would have done, will be more powerful for me personally and what I will benefit from.”