Not completed but. Three phrases of defiance from Daniel Ricciardo’s supervisor who has denied his consumer’s choice to not race in 2023 is all the way down to ego or calls for.
After qualifying on the Japanese Grand Prix, Ricciardo conceded he wouldn’t be on the grid in 2023.
With Pierre Gasly and Nyck de Vries claiming two of the remaining 4 drives, Ricciardo’s choices had been Haas, Williams or a sabbatical.
Some have questioned whether or not Ricciardo eager to race with an elite group or his wage expetations dominated him out of a drive.
His agent says completely not.
“None of that is about ego, unachievable calls for, or a sudden lack of alternative,” Nick Thimm posted to social media.
“That is a few man who was dealt a nasty hand, now discovering the precise subsequent alternative. Uncovering a brand new challenge the place he can work with a group that embraces his distinctive set of expertise.
“A challenge the place his expertise will be utilized. A course of the place he can reset and present his love for the sport. And finally put himself in the most effective place to indicate the world what he’s able to ought to he be given the possibility. It’s a unique strategy sure, but it surely’s additionally a brand new day for the game.
“Daniel’s maturity and expertise is a matched by few on the grid; now greater than ever. The honey badger will nonetheless be as near the F1 grid as he can in 2023. He’s not completed. And as we noticed this season, something can occur.”
Ricciardo will begin the Japanese Grand Prix from eleventh on the grid.
His time at McLaren has been tumultuous to say the least.
This season specifically Ricciardo has been publicly shamed by group proprietor Zak Brown and his contract termination was a much less that respectful debacle.
He was constantly out carried out by his teammate Lando Norris however maybe the bottom level was the general public backing he finally acquired from his superiors regardless of them doing a cope with Piastri on the identical time.
Nonetheless Ricciardo is the one driver to have received a race in a McLaren since 2012.
Whispers of a reserve driver place at Mercedes subsequent season proceed to get louder however the one certainty it appears is he won’t be a starter.
Former F1 champion Jenson Button has warned towards a transfer to Mercedes given Lewis Hamilton’s plans to drive on.
He additionally warned that something greater than 12 months out of the game and its sport over.
“Being a 3rd driver for somebody of his calibre, it’s a really, very unusual scenario he’s discovered himself in,” Button informed Sky Sports activities.
“I don’t know what he would get out of being a 3rd driver. He’s not a younger driver, so he can’t drive the automotive subsequent yr in race weekends (free observe), it needs to be a younger driver. So he wouldn’t actually get something out of it.
“I suppose he’ll in all probability suppose ‘nicely, Lewis may retire after which I’ll soar in his seat’, however Lewis says he’s going to be round for 5 years.
“So he could be ready a very long time.
“So it must be the group the place he thinks he can get a seat for 2024, in any other case it’s sport over since you get forgotten after a yr in F1.”
HOW THEY START
Entrance row Max Verstappen (NED/Crimson Bull) Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)
2nd row Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) Sergio Perez (MEX/Crimson Bull)
third row Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine) Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)
4th row Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine) George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)
fifth row Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston Martin) Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren)
sixth row Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren) Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo)
seventh row Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri) Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo)
eighth row Mick Schumacher (GER/Haas) Alexander Albon (THA/Williams)
ninth row Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri) Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas)
tenth row Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin) Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams)
Initially revealed as F1 Japan Grand Prix begin race time Australia: Reside, grid, Daniel Ricciardo place