Australian Grand Prix 2023: Daniel Ricciardo declared ready to race if there is an issue with Red Bull drivers

Christian Horner has hinted that Daniel Ricciardo is ‘10 minutes away’ from stepping up to the plate. Is a shock comeback on the cards?

• Piastri 14th as rain wreaks havoc
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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says Daniel Ricciardo is just “10 minutes away” from being ready to replace one of his star drivers if he was required as rival team bosses expect the Australian to be in demand for a return to the F1 grid next year.

As the Australian star attends his first Grand Prix this year in his new role as Red Bull’s third driver, Horner said Ricciardo would be “ready to race” if there was any issue with either world champion Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend.

Declaring Ricciardo was starting to get his “mojo back”, Horner revealed how the team had needed to undo “some habits” Ricciardo had picked up in his ill-fated time at McLaren once he jumped back into simulator work for Red Bull.

Horner’s comments came as Ricciardo’s former boss Zak Brown said he hoped the popular Australian would get the chance to return to the F1 grid and win a ninth Grand Prix.

And Haas boss Guether Steiner suggested “everybody will want to speak with Daniel” about rejoining the grid from next year - and did not rule out his team being among them.

Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo hangs out at the pitwall at Albert Park. Picture: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Horner said there was no doubt Ricciardo could jump straight back in the car if he had to be called on to race at Albert Park.

“I would say it’s about 10 minutes away from being ready,” Horner said.

“He is in good shape, he has kept himself fit and well. We have had to feed him up a bit, I don’t know what you guys (McLaren) did to him, he came back looking a bit skinny, but he is looking a bit healthier now.

“I think that he is training hard and he is ready to go given the chance.”

While Ricciardo may not be lining up on the grid at Albert Park, it hasn’t stopped the Aussie fans swarming their hero at the Australian Grand Prix this week.

Horner said Ricciardo had been “throwing himself” into his work off the track for Red Bull and he had seen signs of the popular Australian recapturing his “mojo”.

“Daniel is just a positive energy to have around and it’s great to see him getting his mojo back to see that big smile on his face,” Horner said on Friday.

“Hopefully he will rediscover his love for the sport.

“He will do a bit of testing for us later in the year and we’ll see how that goes for him.

“It was clear when he came back that he had picked up some habits that we didn’t recognise as the Daniel that had left us two or three years earlier.

The man with 1000 smiles soaks up the atmosphere in the Red Bull garage. Picture: AFP

“But having had time off over Christmas and had a chance to reset, when he has come back and got into the 2023 work, he has hit the ground running and I think he likes the feel of the car in the virtual world, which seems to correlate well with what we are seeing in the actual world.

“I think he is desperate to get a run in the car at some point to validate that. We’re certainly seeing him getting back to being far more reminiscent of the Daniel that we knew.”

Despite dumping Ricciardo for fellow Australian Oscar Piastri last year, Brown said he hoped to see Ricciardo back on the grid in the future.

“I don’t think we know, he knows exactly why it didn’t click, sometimes drivers just need to recharge their batteries,” Brown said.

“Hopefully Daniel will get an opportunity to go and win his ninth Grand Prix and many more because I think we would all like to see him back on the grid on a regular basis.”

The fan-favourite this week reiterated his desire to return to a full-time F1 drive in the near future, in a competitive car that would have him challenging for race victories once again.

It was that winning desire that seemingly ruled out Haas and fellow backmarker team Williams from entering into conversations with Ricciardo late last season, after the Aussie’s exit from McLaren was confirmed.

Asked on Friday whether he would pursue Ricciardo once again, Steiner said he would give 2023 drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg a chance before looking in the Australian’s direction.

Red Bull's reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo chats with his team members. Picture: AFP

“It’s a bit early to speak about a driver change already for next year so let’s see what we are doing with these drivers (first),” he said.

“For sure at some point maybe I’ll speak with him but I cannot promise anything, because if our two guys do a good job I think where I stand with it (will be to keep them).”

But Steiner believes Ricciardo will be hot property on the driver market for next season, even if he is not pursued by Haas.

“I think everybody will want to speak with Daniel (after) a year off – maybe (by then) he knows again what he wants to do and he will be interesting for everybody in Formula One.”

Another team linked with Ricciardo last year was Alpine.

The Aussie had previously driven for the French team when it raced as Renault and he momentarily looked set for a return, before Pierre Gasly ultimately landed the vacant seat instead.

Despite choosing to go with Gasly, Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer agreed that Ricciardo would be a man in demand in the F1 paddock.

“He has signed with Red Bull now, but I think like Guenther does - he’s a fantastic racing driver, he’s still young and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s back racing in the future.”