Daniel Ricciardo tipped to drive alongside Max Verstappen in 2024 after a year on the sidelines

This season will be hellish for Daniel Ricciardo but it seems that two drivers not getting along well could spell a return to the top flight for the Aussie.

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen and Australian Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo is set to endure a hellish season on the F1 sidelines but the holy grail of a top seat in 2024 is on the table, according to David Croft.

The Australian veteran struggled to secure a drive for the new season, which gets under way in Bahrain this weekend, after he was unceremoniously sacked by McLaren midway through 2022.

With interest only coming from teams ranking further down the grid, Ricciardo refused all approaches, adamant he still had what it takes to challenge for a world title.

Amid a furious contract saga which resulted in the 33-year-old being dumped from the papaya outfit in favour of compatriot Oscar Piastri, Red Bull swooped in with a lifeline and snapped Ricciardo up as their reserve driver for 2023.

But with Sergio Perez’s contract up this year, could Ricciardo partner Max Verstappen again – four years after walking out on the Red Bull family?

“Never say never in F1,” Croft told Kayo Sports in an interview to air on Friday night.

“More surprising things have happened and it would not surprise me to see him and Max line up together in 2024.

“Personally I think it’s such a shame he is not on the grid (this year). If he comes back a better drive for it then we will all agree on the year off.

Daniel Ricciardo joins Red Bull Racing for 2023 as a reserve driver

“(But) It’s going to be a torturous 2023 for Danny. He says he is not done and wants to come back in F1 but where does he fit? On his day he is one of the most dynamic and exciting drivers.

“Should he have taken a route at Haas? Did he need a rest? Did he need to recharge and find enthusiasm for life again? Only he can answer that.

“Where does he fit if not Red Bull? It’s not a top 3 team, it’s not Alpine, not Aston Martin and not Mclaren so where?

“The biggest key to his participation in F1 rests on Sergio and Max’s relationship which hasn’t always gone as smoothly.

“It will be interesting to see how closely Danny works with Sergio, he must be looking over his shoulder. It is Sergio’s seat to lose.”

Red Bull’s current driver duo were no strangers to controversy last year with their fallout at the Brazil Grand Prix where Verstappen refused team orders to let Perez past.

While “clear the air talks” were ordered and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was left to explain the spat to the world’s media, it seems Perez is not letting go.

Daniel Ricciardo endured a season from hell with McLaren in 2022

Just days before the 2023 curtain raiser, Perez issued a stern warning to his peer.

“It’s always important to work as a team and obviously if I see that I don’t receive support when I need it, I won’t give it either,” said Perez.

“That’s obvious, but I don’t expect any of that.

“I think we are very clear about the important thing, it will be a very intense season, surely with six cars fighting for the championship, so it will be very important to work as a team in many races.”

While echoing his Sky colleague’s sentiments about 2023 being a hellish 12 months for Ricciardo, Martin Brundle is confident Perez is safe at Red Bull.

As with most things in F1 it will come down to money and the Mexican’s home backing is a significant part of his appeal.

“I don’t think Sergio feels pressure,” Brundle said. “He comes with a lot of Mexican support shall we say.

“He is a good combination with Max, he is too experienced, he is an adult amongst kids sometimes but I would say this isn’t going to faze him.

“For Daniel, it will be interesting to see how many races he is at, it will be purgatory for him to be behind the scenes and not racing.

“He must feel like a spare bottle of champagne at a wedding.

“I have seen reserve drivers looking tormented at race weekends because they are born to race.

“He is young enough and fast enough but he lost his way. I think he would have been better ‘doing a Kimi’ and going and doing something else, rallying, do nothing, but miss it.”