The unpredictable world of F1 has yet another twist for us and that would be the end of Australian star, Daniel Ricciardo’s career. Very few drivers have faced these situations with as many twists and “but ifs” as Daniel has. Known for his infectious smile, the Australian driver’s journey in F1 has made fans and experts wonder if things could have gone another way.
The Early Promise by Daniel Ricciardo’s Career
Ricciardo’s success at motorsport’s highest level started in 2011 when he joined the now-demised HRT team. Within a short time, he attracted the interest of more substantial teams and eventually managed to be promoted to Toro Rosso. His big breakthrough was in 2014 when he was signed by Red Bull Racing with Sebastian Vettel, four times world champion.
What people believed was a real proving ground for his performance, Ricciardo stood up to Vettel and outperformed him, clinching three race victories in his maiden season with the team. It was enough to make people think that he is the future world champion in the making. But as history dictates, another young driver was yet to turn the tide for Daniel Ricciardo’s career.
Verstappen vs. Ricciardo: What if the RB team built a brand around the latter?
In 2016, Red Bull received Max Verstappen, creating a transition within Red Bull. While Ricciardo continued to perform brilliantly as a Red Bull driver with great drives such as the Monaco GP victory in 2018, Verstappen was elevated to the team’s poster boy. The Dutchman’s rapid rise to prominence left many to ponder: But what if Red Bull had decided to form their team around him instead of Vettel?
Could Ricciardo have stepped up and become the clear number 1 for the Red Bull team and won the titles Red Bull failed to secure? Just a food for thought, right?
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Daniel Ricciardo Hints at a possible end to F1 career
The Renault Gamble
Ricciardo gave it all in his renewed contract for Red Bull, then to his astonishment, he left them for Renault in 2019 to join a team that was struggling but one who was determined to climb the ladder again. While many saw it as a step back, there still was hope for the team’s future in the eyes of Ricciardo. They appeared to pay off by the year 2020 as he recorded several podium finishes that pointed Renaults toward a better position.
However, the desire to shift to another new challenge made by Ricciardo left Renault which is currently known as Alpine before the team realized their potential. With Fernando Alonso later enjoying strong performances at the team, the question lingers: Well, what would have happened if Daniel Ricciardo chose to remain loyal to the Renault group Deep into their career?
Mclaren Stint
The time when Ricciardo joined McLaren in 2021 can be considered the beginning of a new life – an opportunity to demonstrate his potential at the new legendary team. That year’s Monza triumph reminded people of his sheer ability but his time with McLaren was characterized largely by an inability to get the best out of the machine. Sidelined by his young teammate Lando Norris, Ricciardo’s running was short-lived.
What if he had managed to unlock the potential of the McLaren car as he had with others in the past?
Return to Red Bull: Well sort of!
Amid the 2023 season, as if by magic, Ricciardo was promoted back into the Red Bull fold as a reserve driver with a mid-season call-up to AlphaTauri (now known as the Visa Cash App RB). He only returned to the circuit in 2024 due to a hand injury but he might have been coming back into form since the latter.
But in the recent race at Singapore, he has been again sidelined with an immediate effect. He has been replaced by New Zealander, Liam Lawson.
Most probably this is the last nail in the coffin for Daniel Ricciardo’s career. It is rather not possible that he’ll continue racing, but who knows?
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