Haas Considers Daniel Ricciardo for Possible Formula One Return in 2024

Australian Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo is without a race seat for the 2023 season after McLaren bought out the final year of his contract due to underwhelming performances over the past two years. While there appeared to be some options for Ricciardo on the grid, including vacant seats at Haas, Williams, and Alpine, negotiations failed to yield any serious discussions.

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner revealed that talks with Ricciardo quickly petered out, and his salary demands were above the price point the team was willing to pay. Ricciardo has made it clear that he is seeking a year off from racing to reset and focus on his goals.

As a result, Ricciardo has found refuge as a third driver, serving as an occasional reserve driver for Red Bull, including this weekend’s race in Australia. At the team bosses’ press conference in Melbourne, Steiner indicated that he would be willing to have a chat with Ricciardo about a potential return to the grid for the 2024 season, should he decide to make a comeback.

Szafnauer, team boss of Alpine, also confirmed that there had been preliminary discussions with Ricciardo about re-joining the team, but ultimately, Pierre Gasly was signed when he became available.

Ricciardo’s future in F1 remains uncertain, but with his talent and youth, it’s likely that he will be back racing in the future. For now, he will take a year off to reset and focus on his goals, while teams keep an eye on his progress and potential return to the grid.