F1 news: Daniel Ricciardo’s call on Formula One future caught on hot mic

Daniel Ricciardo’s was caught discussing his future plans with a rival in Holland but the latest trade news suggests his options have taken another huge blow. WATCH NOW.

Daniel Ricciardo’s hopes of a Formula One contract for 2023 have been dealt another significant blow with the latest contract negotiations set to eliminate two more seats.

The Australian, who last month had his McLaren contract terminated 12 months early, is adamant he would only stay in the sport if he could land a competitive drive for 2023.

The front three teams are locked-in with their line-ups meaning Ricciardo’s options were limited from the start but the latest news from the paddock is likely to force the 33-year-old to choose between a less competitive seat and a year on the sidelines.

Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has confirmed that Colton Herta joining AlphaTauri and Pierre Gasly moving to Alpine is a done deal if the FIA issues the young American a super license.

The two seats were widely considered the most competitive opportunities for Ricciardo, with Alpine the only realistic destination given Red Bull’s tendency to back up and coming young talent.

McLaren's Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo waves to the public

“Astonishingly enough, all of the parties and teams involved, we’ve found an agreement,” Marko said.

“First, we have to get a definite answer (from the FIA) and I think it should be by Monza…Monza I would say.

“If the deal works, then it happens at Monza – also for Pierre”.

Currently Herta only has 32 of the 40 points required to be eligible for the licence required to race in F1 but Red Bull have appealed for an exemption with the FIA based on criteria introduced during the Covid pandemic.

“We looked at the regulations, we discussed it with the FIA,” he said. “Because of COVID, there’s a special regulation that you can take three years (from four) and also if one result isn’t maximum points and outside the driver’s [hands] they can give the points.

“So it’s nothing unreasonable. He won seven IndyCar races and that’s comparable to a grand prix, so it would be a shame if he wouldn’t get a super licence.”

If the FIA comes through for Herta and Gasly makes the switch it would leave Haas and Williams as the teams yet to confirm their partnerships for 2023.

“Take a year off” DANIEL WTF pic.twitter.com/I5VR6odCjc

— chlo (@formulachlo) September 4, 2022

DID RICCIARDO LET IT SLIP?

While Ricciardo is yet to confirm his plans for next year, he was caught on camera in Holland saying he is considering sitting next year out.

Seemingly unaware there was a microphone nearby during a pre-race conversation with Red Bull driver Sergio Perez at the Dutch Grand Prix, Ricciardo could be heard saying “… take a year off and come back in 2024.”

Ricciardo has been clear in his desire to find a competitive seat on the grid in 2023 but those are few and far between - and his struggles for McLaren this season have put his stock at all-time low.

There are fears if he sits out next season, the paddock may pass over him entirely in favour of younger, cheaper drivers.

The West Australian’s Formula 1 future has been the topic of much speculation since he announced last month he and McLaren would go their separate ways at the end of the season.

Ricciardo was paid $14.5m by McLaren to end his contract a year early, and the Woking based team moved swiftly to sign rookie Australian driver Oscar Piastri to fill the seat from next season.

An eight-time race winner who at his best was considered a world championship contender, Ricciardo has endured a horror stint at McLaren since arriving from Renault with high hopes at the end of 2020.

His race win at Monza last year aside, Ricciardo has struggled for success in the papaya while teammate Lando Norris continues to outperform the more experienced driver.

That was again laid bare at Zandvoort on Sunday night when Ricciardo finished 17th, while Norris came in seventh.

RESULTS

1. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1hr 36min 42.773sec,

2. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) at 4.071sec,

3. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 10.929,

4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 13.016,

5. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull) 18.168,

6. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine-Renault) 18.754,

7. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 19.306,

8. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 20.916,

9. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 21.117,

10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 22.459,

11. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 27.009,

12. Alex Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 20.390,

13. Mick Schumacher (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 32.995,

14. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 36.007,

5. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 36.869,

16. Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo) 37.320,

17. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 37.764,

18. Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 1 lap

Fastest lap: Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:13.652

Retirements Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull), Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo)

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1. Max Verstappen (NED) 310 pts,

2. Charles Leclerc (MON) 201,

3. Sergio Pérez (MEX) 201,

4. George Russell (GBR) 188,

5. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 175,

6. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 158,

7. Lando Norris (GBR) 82,

8. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 66,

9. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 59,

10. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 46,

11. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 22,

12. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 20,

13. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 19,

14. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 18,

15. Mick Schumacher (GER) 12,

16. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) 11,

17. Zhou Guanyu (CHN) 5,

18. Lance Stroll (CAN) 5,

19. Alexander Albon (THA) 4,

20. Nicholas Latifi (CAN) 0,

21. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) 0

CONSTRUCTORS

1. Red Bull 511 pts,

2. Ferrari 376,

3. Mercedes 346,

4. Alpine-Renault 125,

5. McLaren-Mercedes 101,

6. Alfa Romeo 51,

7. Haas-Ferrari 34,

8. AlphaTauri-Red Bull 29,

9. Aston Martin-Mercedes 25,

10. Williams-Mercedes 4

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