Haas F1 team not keen to get Ricciardo for next year
Aug.26 - Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he may be left without a race seat on the 2023 grid.
For many in the paddock, while the Australian's newly-terminated McLaren contract for next year may have involved Zak Brown writing him a big pay-off cheque, Ricciardo's demise is sad news.
"Maybe I have too much empathy for a Formula 1 driver, but I'm very saddened to hear what's happening to Daniel. I think it's a very, very difficult situation to be in," said Sebastian Vettel, who was the 33-year-old's teammate at Red Bull.
"I don't know the details, but I guess McLaren failed to extract the potential that he has. And it's sad to see that he's been put in a difficult position."
Indeed, while Ricciardo has been linked with a return to F1's Renault-owned works team (Alpine), he may struggle even to extract a contract signature from Haas.
"Everyone thinks that we have to take Daniel, but maybe we don't want him," team boss Gunther Steiner said in Belgium.
"We have to be careful here, because it's not just about what he's done so far in his career but also about what he can still do," the Haas chief added.
"Everyone is interesting to us. We look at all the possible candidates."
With race seats scarce elsewhere, Ricciardo admitted on Thursday that he has arrived at a "big moment in time for my career".
He insists he wants to keep racing in Formula 1, but only if he can do that "competitively".
"I want to do it in the right place. I never said I want to just be a driver to make up the numbers," said Ricciardo. "If I'm here, I want to be here for a purpose.
"I don't know what that means yet for the future, but if it's the right opportunity, then this is where I want to be."
It could be that the absence of the 'right opportunity' leads him to F1's exit door - or require him to sit out a full season in 2023.
"If it made sense?" Ricciardo answered when asked about the potential of a sabbatical. "Yes, if it makes sense.
"F1 is what I love and it's where I see myself if I'm doing any racing. If the stars don't align and it doesn't make perfect sense next year, and if it means taking that time off to kind of reset or re-evaluate, then I'm willing to."
He also insists that he has no hard feelings towards his fellow Australians Oscar Piastri and the 21-year-old's manager Mark Webber, even if it is not confirmed yet that Piastri is replacing him at McLaren.
"I honestly still don't know what the future holds for Oscar," Ricciardo said. "I'm assuming that he is kind of guaranteed a spot on the grid next year somewhere.
"But it's just business and obviously Mark's just doing his job for Oscar. So I don't take any of that personally. It's certainly not the outcome I wanted, but it's the reality."
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Sory Gunther , bit ambiguous this (maybe we dont want him ) lol
So its Alpine-Montecarlo or bust time Danni, listen Daniel being signed by Mcl was the biggest moment of your f1 career, this is now just the downward slope to the bier keller
Ahhhh DR When Haas turn you down you know its time to don the budgie smugglers, polish those teeth and head off back under lol
Gunther didn't say or imply this way, though.
Righttt, I can see the telephone call to Gene H , yeah Gene you know we can sign this guy , but hes not done any good in the Mcl , whohhh Gunther you mean the Mcl thats super quick, Heh wasnt he at Renault before that too, didnt he just chase the money and leave? yeah but you know Gene, expletive expletive, Oh ok Gene I understand, or dyo think im talking B**l**it ?
If he goes to Haas with all respect to them , hell be ending his f1 career as he started it, with a very poor team .And to prove me wrong watch him go and sign for them.
in a car that suits his style danny ric would be as good as ever and a massive upgrade over physcon
it's a no brainer for alpine taking a punt on him - hope they do, he's one of the more likeable drivers and if they hit that sweet spot the payoff could be very big
my guess is they're trying to get gasly out of his contract first
danny back to rb-jnrs would be interesting
it's also interesting ric took a buyout without a guarantee of a seat elsewhere - he must have really wanted to get out of a toxic environment
brilliant way to run a team zach - pay tens of millions to someone not to work for you
you can't sell the factory a 2nd time
".....it's also interesting ric took a buyout without a guarantee of a seat elsewhere - he must have really wanted to get out of a toxic environment"
He was sacked, not his decision. He took what he could get.
Plus Ror his replacement cost Jack Shit, Zak isn't down on the deal .
Just looking at physical appearrances of people in F1 you would not think there is very much money involved.
Bernie amd Binotto can't afford a decent haircut and most of the drivers can't afford razor blades.
Thats a joke people in case you don't get that.
Les your correct but , apart from defending Mr Curly and Mr Big hair, BE and EJ are ok(naturally you'd not expect me to defend the Dame for her outrageous hair extensions) ,with both owning shares in Wig making companies, i'm all for a driver having a full on beard, would give us all something else to laugh about, but its fashion , remember the seventies sideburns geezzzzz, On Sir Jackie and Emmer, but i do agree F1 drivers appear quite poor, some wearing the most ridiculous clothing, often styled for Ladies......
Ric had a short use by date. Teams should tune in to their gut feelings.
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