DAN IN A GOOD SPACE AMID 2023 MYSTERIES

Australian Formula 1 star Daniel Ricciardo provided an update on his future ahead of the sport’s return to Singapore’s dazzling Marina Bay Street circuit.

As Ricciardo prepared for his first crack at taking on the Singapore streets in a McLaren, questions surrounding his future continued to swell.

Despite agreeing to an early termination of his three-year contract with McLaren more than a month ago, the future of the 33-year-old Australian remains unclear.

Unconfirmed spots in 2023 remain at Alpine, Williams and Haas, but a reserve driver role higher up the grid has loomed as potential option for Ricciardo.

The eight-time Grand Prix winner revealed “my head space is in the same space” with his preference to race on in F1 in 2023.

“Yeah, I’m still keen to be part of F1,” he said.

“Of course, plan A would to be on the grid, so nothing’s changed, but as I said, I don’t want to just jump at the first seat available.

“To be honest, my team is talking to pretty much everyone and they are having conversations.

“So we are just trying to put it all together and figure out what makes the most sense. 

“We are just doing our due diligence and figuring out what’s best. Trying to see beyond next year, because for me I want be racing but also don’t want to be just looking at the next 12 months and not the next 24.”

Daniel Ricciardo revealed he is ‘at peace’ with whatever happens in 2023 as his post-McLaren destination remains unclear.

In recent weeks a reserve driver role at Mercedes has been rumoured and Ricciardo did not rule it out, but said there is still a drive to return to the F1 podium, and not to pursue other challenges such as IndyCar or the Bathurst 1000.

“It’s (reserve driver role) certainly something that’s realistic, yeah,” he said.

“That’s (reserve with top team or full-time with smaller team) the two I would say realistic options. It’s not to be anywhere else, I mean I love other disciplines of motorsport but I don’t ever see myself there.

“At least, I feel as well if I jump into something like that it closes the door to F1 and it will feel like I’ve checked out, and I haven’t. I’m solely focused on F1 and, yeah, we’ll see.

“I don’t want to just race to race, I want to race with belief and understanding that I will be back on the podium.”

With so much speculation surrounding his next move, Ricciardo admitted the rare two-week break was a relief amid the hectic Formula 1 calendar, giving him some perspective as he weighs up his future.

“It has been good. I was home for a part of that, after Monza I did a bit of sim and factory stuff, but then I got to get home and it was kind of nice being around family and switching off,” he said.

“I spent some time at the farm and did some fun things like riding bikes and being a bit of a kid again. 

“It’s like a little bit of time away is powerful and reminds you how much you miss it and that’s where next year, if I’m, not racing, I feel like there could be a blessing in all that.

“It could make me start foaming at the mouth wanting to get back, so that’s why I’d be pumped to be on the grid again but also seeing positives if that’s not the case.

“That’s why I’m at peace with whatever happens in 2023, because everything is going to happen for a reason.”

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