Daniel Ricciardo has just dropped the biggest hint around any potential return to the Formula 1 grid.
Whether her meant to or not, the Aussie ace revealed a telling detail over where he wants to be if a return eventuates.
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The 33-year-old returned to Red Bull as a reserve driver after his contract at McLaren was cut short with the team opting to sign young Aussie Oscar Piastri.
As the news of Ricciardo’s axing reverberated around the Formula 1 paddock, speculation ran wild over where he would sign.
Only wanting to sit in a car that would give him a chance to compete at the front of the grid, the Perth native opted to sit out the 2023 F1 season.
His hopes of returning to the grid have been reignited since being back in the Red Bull garage as a reserve driver, but it hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from speculating about his future.
Now he’s dropped arguably the biggest hint as to which team he wants to be driving for when his time comes around again.
“I’ve been in the simulator, but I will drive the RB19 (for the first time) in July after the Silverstone race,” Ricciardo told ESPN.
“Then maybe I’ll get another one after Monza as well in September.
“I’m certainly excited to drive a fast car, but also a car that maybe still feels familiar to me – it does a little bit in the sim.
“But I’m just excited to drive again and to just try to remind a team obviously I once had a lot of success with that I can still turn a fast lap.”
Ricciardo was clearly hinting at driving again for Red Bull, the team he’s had his greatest success with, winning seven grand prixs over the course of five seasons.
His return to the team as a reserve was one thing, rejoining them as a lead driver is a whole other kettle of fish.
With Max Verstappen locked into the number one seat, it’s the second seat the Aussie would have to have his eyes on.
Sergio Perez currently occupies this seat and in 2023 has shown just how dominant he can be as he attempts to push Verstappen all the way until the final race.
Tensions between the pair reached ugly heights towards the end of the 2022 season and when Ricciardo’s return was announced all eyes turned to Perez and the hot seat he found himself occupying.
The reportedly frosty relationship between Perez and Verstappen is a far cry from the one Ricciardo has with the two-time world champion.
The pair are often seen sharing a laugh with the Dutch star labelling him as the teammate he learnt the most from.
The fire still burns for Ricciardo and a place on the grid in upcoming seasons is the goal he’s chasing.
“I’m definitely still in a really good place – I’m very happy with this,” he said of his 2023 reserve driver role.
“Does it mean that I’m happy doing this for the next two or three years? Probably not. But I think for this year it’s certainly a good thing for me.
“Right now, I do want to get back on the grid next year. I do feel like there’s certainly some unfinished business. I’m staying in the loop and staying prepared and whatever.”
Whether or not that unfinished business unfolds at Red Bull or elsewhere remains to be seen.
