NASCAR team Trackhouse Project 91 chasing Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo’s hopes of securing a competitive Formula One seat for 2023 are dwindling, but that doesn’t mean the Aussie driver is out of options.

Michael Masi (C) was hounded out of Formula One. Picture: Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Daniel Ricciardo is reportedly in the sights of Trackhouse Racing Project 91 boss Justin Marks to race NASCAR in 2023 if the West Australian does not find a seat on the Formula One grid next year.

Ricciardo, 33, remains without a Formula One seat for next season after he and McLaren split with a year to run on his contract.

The eight-time race winner’s future has become the topic of much speculation since his split with McLaren was announced last month and Ricciardo told News Corp this week he would be “at peace” with sitting on the sidelines next year if the right move does not eventuate.

Daniel Ricciardo is being chased by NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing. Picture: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Someone who is reportedly keeping a close eye on Ricciardo’s situation is Trackhouse Racing boss Marks, who is spearheading a bold push to bring the world’s elite motorsports athletes into NASCAR behind the wheel of his No. 91 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet.

Former Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen substantiated Project 91 when he raced at Watkins Glen in his NASCAR Cup debut last month.

But the Fin is only the first of many big names Marks hopes to woo to NASCAR and one of those is reportedly Ricciardo.

Ricciardo is one of the biggest figures in motorsport and particularly in the United States, where his larrikin persona and sense of humour has made him one of the most bankable stars in the industry.

.@DanielRicciardo is "aware of Project 91 and he knows that there's interest on our side, (but) I think he's figuring out what his F1 deal is," @JustinMarksTH said of possibly running the Australian in a NASCAR race with Trackhouse. pic.twitter.com/cAkna5cHoz

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) September 21, 2022

It’s why for weeks after the announcement of his McLaren split Ricciardo was linked with a move to Haas, the only American-based Formula One team.

However with Ricciardo adamant he does not want to drive for a backmarker those links quickly cooled.

Sports Business Journal reporter Adam Stern quoted Marks as saying Ricciardo was “aware of Project 91 and he knows that there’s interest on our side, (but) I think he’s figuring out what his F1 deal is (first).”

With seats on the grid for 2023 quickly filling up, Ricciardo could soon be faced with sitting out the Formula One season but he will have no shortage of motorsport admirers elsewhere.

HORNER: MONZA MESS PROVES MASI GOT IT RIGHT

Ousted Australian Formula One race director Michael Masi was unfairly treated by the public for his involvement in the infamous end to the 2021 season at Abu Dhabi, says Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

Horner revealed he had spoken to Masi multiple times since that fateful day on December 12, when Max Verstappen and Red Bull ended Lews Hamilton and Mercedes’ Formula One dominance under controversial circumstances.

Masi was heavily criticised for calling out the safety car on the final lap and then allowing the backmarkers between Hamilton and Verstappen to un-lap themselves, leading to a one-lap shootout between the two title rivals which ended in the Red Bull driver claiming his maiden world championship.

The Australian was removed as race director and has since been appointed Chairman of the Supercars Commission.

Michael Masi (C) was hounded out of Formula One. Picture: Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Speaking on the F1: Beyond The Grid podcast Horner, whose team and driver ultimately benefited from the fallout, said he had been in contact with Masi since the race to check-in on him.

“Yes, on a couple of occasions,” Horner said.

“I felt that it wasn’t fair the way he had been treated because I think that he had done the best he could, following the principles he had been told.

“I think the only thing he screwed up on was not allowing the final two cars at the back of the field to un-lap themselves. But everything (else) he had done was absolutely by the book and followed the principles of getting them to finish racing on the track.”

The topic was again raised following the most recent race at Monza, where Verstappen cruised to victory under a safety car to the chequered flag.

Fans bemoaned the dull end to the race and Horner suggested it would have been even worse if the same occurred at the end of last season, with Verstappen and Hamilton enjoying a stunning title battle to that point.

New regs, new overtaking opportunities...

Christian Horner is a big fan! 👍

The @redbullracing team boss is our guest on this week's #F1BeyondTheGrid 🙌#F1

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 21, 2022

“As we saw recently at Monza, nobody wants to see a race diluted and finished under a safety car. So he (Masi) did everything to get that (Abu Dhabi) race going again,” Horner said.

“Then I think the reaction after the race – there was a huge amount of abuse (aimed at Masi).

There were death threats to his family, no individual deserves to go through what he did.”

Following the Abu Dhabi GP, the FIA moved to ban team bosses from having a direct line of communication to the race director.

Horner said he now felt it was not right that he and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff were able to pressure Masi into making a decision during the race in Abu Dhabi and in hindsight, the issues started to become apparent at 2021 British Grand Prix when Horner and Wolff got into a heated exchange at race control.

“Really after (the 2021 British Grand Prix) we should have said right, there should be only communication between the race director and team managers, but of course at that point the competitiveness becomes so driven that it’s only natural you will do the best you can for your team, so of course you’re going to argue for your team as strongly as you can and that came to no greater head than in Abu Dhabi,” Horner said.

“I think it’s right that has stopped.”