Daniel Ricciardo Receives Major Boost Amid .....

Daniel Ricciardo Receives Major Boost Amid …..read more

Daniel Ricciardo has been given a significant boost in his pursuit of a potential return to Formula 1, despite his recent struggles in the 2024 season. The Australian driver was dropped from AlphaTauri (now known as VCARB) in September, after a series of underwhelming performances that saw him fall behind his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, in both qualifying and race results. This marks a difficult chapter in Ricciardo’s F1 career, following an extended absence from the sport after being dropped by McLaren in 2022.

Although Ricciardo’s F1 future appeared uncertain following his departure from VCARB, there are still those within the paddock who believe he could make a comeback. A major factor in this renewed optimism comes from the anticipated entry of Cadillac, the American car manufacturer, into the sport. The General Motors-backed team is set to join the F1 grid in 2026, and reports suggest they may be considering Ricciardo for one of their seats.

Despite this speculation, Ricciardo has firmly denied any intention of returning to Formula 1, stating that he is “done” with the sport when asked about the possibility of a move to Cadillac. His candid comments have led many to believe that Ricciardo is content with his current position, which involves a possible transition to other racing series or roles outside of F1.

Nevertheless, Ricciardo’s potential F1 return has received a boost thanks to the words of his former boss, Laurent Mekies, the current team principal of Scuderia Ferrari. Mekies, who worked with Ricciardo during his time at AlphaTauri, offered high praise for the Australian driver’s technical acumen and his invaluable contribution to the development of the team, particularly his work with Tsunoda in 2024.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Mekies emphasized the significant role Ricciardo played in helping Tsunoda develop throughout the 2024 season. He praised Ricciardo’s technical feedback, race-winning mentality, and ability to push the team’s development forward. According to Mekies, Ricciardo’s presence provided not only a sense of stability for the team but also a benchmark for Tsunoda to strive for, given Ricciardo’s experience in race-winning teams and his proven understanding of car development.

Mekies stated, “There was a huge benefit for the team and for Yuki in terms of Daniel’s technical feedback, direction of development, and race-winning approach. Having somebody that knows how it is in a team that wins races, that fights for championships, is setting the benchmark, and that counts a lot in a time when you are trying to build the team and target better results.” This reference to Ricciardo’s expertise in winning environments and his extensive experience in F1 is important, especially for teams that are looking to establish themselves and push for better results, like Cadillac, which will be joining the grid in a couple of years.

Mekies further elaborated on the tangible benefits that Ricciardo brought to the AlphaTauri team, particularly in terms of car development. He noted that Ricciardo’s understanding of how to set up a car for different conditions, combined with his experience in high-pressure race situations, provided invaluable guidance to the engineers and to Tsunoda himself. Mekies mentioned that the Japanese driver was able to develop a strong working relationship with Ricciardo, absorbing a great deal from his insights on car setup and racing strategies, which helped Tsunoda make significant strides in his performance.

The impact of Ricciardo’s experience and feedback on Tsunoda was also evident in Tsunoda’s improved performances throughout 2024. Under Ricciardo’s mentorship, Tsunoda was able to refine his approach to both qualifying and race weekends, benefiting from Ricciardo’s meticulous attention to detail and his proven ability to deliver results under pressure.

While Ricciardo’s future in Formula 1 remains uncertain for now, the backing of key figures like Laurent Mekies underscores the value that Ricciardo can still bring to any team, especially those looking to grow and make their mark in the competitive F1 environment. His technical expertise, experience, and leadership qualities could make him a valuable asset to any team, and with Cadillac’s entry on the horizon, there may still be opportunities for him to return to the sport, should he choose to do so.

For now, however, Ricciardo appears focused on his current endeavors and has expressed that he is at peace with his departure from F1. Whether or not he ultimately returns to the sport will depend on a variety of factors, but the support and respect from figures like Mekies certainly suggest that Ricciardo’s presence and experience are still highly valued in the F1 world.