Daniel Ricciardo ‘highly likely’ to return to Red Bull Racing

McLaren’s outgoing driver, Daniel Ricciardo, has said he is ‘highly likely’ to return to Red Bull Racing in 2023 as the Australian is sidelined next season.

Ricciardo ,who will leave the McLaren team imminently, is set to return to his former home – Red Bull – in 2023 as the Australian recalibrates his career.

The Australian was informed earlier this year that his seat will be replaced by, fellow countryman, Oscar Piastri for the 2023 season.

As seats in Formula 1 come-and-go fairly quickly in the cut-throat nature of the sport, a seat on the grid next season looked fairly unlikely. It was suspected Ricciardo would take up a reserve driver role at one of the top teams.

Earlier this weekend, it was rumoured the Australian would return to Red Bull after Dr. Helmut Marko let it slip to Sky Germany. However, Red Bull’s Advisor later retracted his statement.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Ricciardo said:

“That is the highly likely place for me – yeah, Red Bull. Obviously, I can’t say 100% until things are signed off, and whatever, but that’s what is closest now.

“I look forward to that. If it is though, I’m not going to be at 24 races otherwise I may as well be on the grid somewhere. I still made it clear that I still need some time off, for myself, to get away a little bit.”

If Ricciardo returns to Red Bull, it would be his second outing for the team.

The Australian left Red Bull for greener pastures at the end of the 2018 when he signed for Renault for the 2019 season. After two seasons, the Australian progress to McLaren (for 2021) where he suffered two challenging seasons at the Woking outfit.

Red Bull’s Team Principle, Christain Horner, has stated there is an offer on the table.

According to Formula1.com, Horner said:

“We haven’t signed anything yet, but Helmut in his enthusiasm has obviously announced it! I guess that means that Daniel will be joining us, unless of course he chooses not to sign it!

“It means that he keeps in touch with F1 and we’ll obviously be using him on the simulator as well, and he’ll be attending potentially some events – of course, if he does sign the contract!

“But I’m sure that will all become clear in the event of him signing a contract.”

That’s it for the article; Daniel Ricciardo ‘highly likely’ to return to Red Bull Racing!

What do you think, should Daniel Ricciardo return to Red Bull Racing next season in some form? Let us know in the comments!

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Logan Sargeant SHOULD be racing at Williams next season
• Abu Dhabi GP: Verstappen returns to the top in FP2
• Abu Dhabi GP: Hamilton tops final FP1 session of 2022
• Red Bull release statement regarding Brazil GP
• Nico Hulkenberg returns to F1 with Haas

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.