F1 news: Daniel Ricciardo opens up on 2023 ambitions

As Daniel Ricciardo tries to work his way back on to the Formula One grid, the Australian driver has delivered a subtle message to his team boss.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 03: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks during the Oracle Red Bull Racing Season Launch 2023 at Classic Car Club Manhattan on February 03, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Oracle Red Bull Racing)

Fallen Formula One star Daniel Ricciardo has revealed his personal ambitions for his gap year, admitting he needs to prove himself a “team player” at Red Bull to remind pitlane he still has the hunger to race at the highest level.

Ricciardo was unceremoniously dumped by McLaren after two years of disappointment for the papaya, but rather than secure a seat at a team in the back half of the grid he instead opted for a reserve driver role with the world champions.

While it means Ricciardo will not be on the grid for next weekend’s Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, he will still be in Melbourne as part of the Red Bull team.

But it’s away from track and F1 circus where Ricciardo will have his biggest impact, helping Red Bull with simulator testing to keep the team lapping ahead of the rest of the grid.

While there are no guarantees he will ever get another F1 seat, Ricciardo knows what he does at Red Bull will dictate whether he ever gets another chance in the world’s biggest motorsport category.

“This is the first year in as long as I can remember that my goals aren’t going to be 100% about racing and competing,” Ricciardo wrote on LinkedIn.

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed his personal ambitions for his gap year. Picture: Getty Images

“Whilst there’s still an element of that, it’s in a different capacity this year and I now have space for a separate set of goals to focus on too.

“From a professional point of view, this year is really about being a team player at Red Bull. I’m back in an environment and ultimately a family that I have a lot of good memories with and it feels really good to be back there.

“But it’s not about me this year, it’s about the wider team and trying to contribute and help them where I can.

“Jumping into the simulator, learning their car and helping shape the development are all things I’m focused on doing. In turn that will develop my abilities, my confidence and my enjoyment behind the wheel.

“It’s been a tough couple of years professionally, so there’s an element of that competitor in me wanting to remind people that I’m still here, still a professional and still contributing to success.”

Daniel Ricciardo needs to prove himself a “team player”. Picture: AFP

The timing of Ricciardo’s post, and his strong reference to being a “team player”, could be viewed as a subtle reminder to Red Bull boss Christian Horner that he has another option in the garage if the ill feeling between world champ Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez continues to fester.

Even if Ricciardo doesn’t get a chance to race in 2023, he knows he must make the most of the year off.

“From a personal perspective, this year for me is really feeling like a bit of a luxury to have the opportunity to do things that I’ve always wanted to and not had the time,” he said.

“I don’t want the year to pass me by, because if I am racing again next year, I’ll wish I’d made the most of the free time whilst I had it.”

Ricciardo identified travelling “on my own terms”, spending one-on-one time with family and friends and “improving my skills on two wheels” as his personal goals for 2023.

“It’s weird saying this after traveling the world for the last 15 years, but I want to travel more this year,” he said.

“For me, I want to hit some destinations and actually experience the country, slow down and become a local.

“So often with the F1 schedule we’re in and out of a country in a few days without seeing anything other than the circuit and the hotel, and it’s certainly not a vacation! I get so much energy from new countries, new conversations and new things, so I’m really looking forward to being in control of the destination and the schedule.”