One possibility that cannot be ruled out entirely, but remains uncertain, is Daniel Ricciardo replacing Lewis Hamilton should the seven-time world champion decide to retire after a successful 2023 season.
However, Hamilton has indicated that he is not planning to retire anytime soon and is confident of continuing for a few more years. Although he and team principal Toto Wolff have confirmed that a new Mercedes contract is in the works, they have yet to finalize the details.
It is worth noting that prior to joining Red Bull, Mercedes had shown interest in signing Ricciardo as their third driver. This suggests that the team’s management at Brackley recognizes Ricciardo’s potential and could consider him as a viable replacement for Hamilton in the future.
Number 5. Alpine
Although Daniel Ricciardo had a successful stint at Renault’s predecessor, Alpine, it appears that the French team has their driver lineup sorted for the near future. Pierre Gasly has signed a multi-year contract with the team, and Esteban Ocon is set to continue until the end of 2024. However, if the past animosity between the two French drivers resurfaces, causing one of them to become untenable, Alpine may consider giving Ricciardo another opportunity.
