Ricciardo-Red Bull reunion?

Daniel Ricciardo’s future could lie with the team where he enjoyed his most success at in Formula 1 with Helmut Marko claiming the Australian will be its third driver in 2023.

Ricciardo will not be racing next year after losing his McLaren seat in August and turned his attention to chasing a reserve role at the higher end of the grid with the hope of returning full time in 2024.

A return to Red Bull has been mooted alongside a switch to Mercedes in recent weeks, while the Australian revealed “progress” was made in regards to his future during the build up to this weekend’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Despite no formal announcement being made, Red Bull advisor Marko may had just let the cat out of the bag, claiming Ricciardo could be coming back to fulfil third driver commitment plus a number of ambassador events and show runs.

“Ricciardo will be our third driver,” said Marko on Sky Germany’s coverage of FP1 at Yas Marina Circuit.

“We have so many sponsors, we have to do show runs and the like, so of course he’s one of the most high-profile and best suited.”

A Red Bull reunion for Ricciardo would mark a comeback to the team he had shared his happiest F1 memories with.

The “Honey Badger” has won seven of his eight Grand Prix victories with the Milton Keynes based squad with the first coming in unexpected circumstances in 2014 and the last his revenge at Monaco in 2018.

Ricciardo turned himself into a star by winning on three separate occasions in 2014 which was his first season at Red Bull after completing two full seasons with the “junior” team Toro Rosso.

Even after the arrival of Max Verstappen, the Australian still scored many sweet wins including Malaysia 2016 and Azerbaijan 2017.

He signed off with the team by taking memorable victories at China and Monaco before jumping free to start a new chapter with Renault having felt Red Bull shifted more attention towards Verstappen’s side of the garage.

Ricciardo only lasted two seasons with the French manufacturer before going McLaren with high hopes, but that spell followed the same fate despite a special 1-2 win in Monza.

If Marko’s comments do prove to be true, Ricciardo can resettle himself with a car and team he knows he can succeed at and possibly put himself in the frame to race for the squad once again if the opportunity arises.

But for now the paddock rumours will continue to swell as teams turn to the on track action where Mercedes continued its form in FP1 where Lewis Hamilton led home teammate George Russell in a 1-2 finish, while Australians Ricciardo and Jack Doohan finished in P8 and P19 respectively.

FP2 will start at midnight AEDT.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport.