Daniel Ricciardo will be one of the most popular names in the following months to form the list of drivers for the 2024 season in Formula 1, after taking a year off the tracks, after being cut by McLaren, and the Australian already sounds from now on to occupy a seat.
The current Red Bull reserve driver, made an appearance at the Australian Grand Prix for the first time since leaving his former team, as part of the team that was on the pitwall, In addition to participating in previous events of his team, and from now on he is pegged as the next Alfa Romeo driver.
Is Daniel Ricciardo going to Alfa Romeo?
In said team important changes are coming after the current season, since the link ends precisely with Alfa Romeo, so that the team could revert to its original name, which is Sauber. In this way, Ricciardo would enter into the plans for the return of Sauber, according to the journalist Pedro Fermín.
“Sauber is the option that is currently working more closely with the driver’s environment so that he returns to Formula 1. Daniel Ricciardo could return to Formula 1 in 2024 hand in hand with Alfa Romeo”, said the communicator, who was also responsible for spreading the rumors that Lando Norris is placing Checo Pérez at Red Bull by 2024, and according to him, the Mexican is going to Sauber.
Guanyou Zhou, the sacrificed pilot
The driver sacrificed in this sense would be the Chinese Guanyu Zhou, who, although he has left some good feelings in the team, He has not stood out among the grid either, neither at a sporting level, nor in the media. In his first season with Alfa Romeo, the Chinese driver scored six points, while in 2023 he adds two points. That number is far from the 49 achieved by his teammate Valtteri Bottas in 2022.
Both Bottas and Zhou terminate contract with Alfa Romeo In the 2023 season, and taking into account the results of one and the other, Bottas could renew his contract, while Zhou would have to find a seat.
What about Daniel Ricciardo?
In the words of Christian Horner, director of the Red Bull team, Ricciardo has adapted to his role in the simulator as a reserve driver, aware that he has no options to move up to RB19 or due to a loss from Max Verstappen or Checo Pérez.
“He’s been sitting through all the briefings, too has been hard at work on the simulator in the uk doing some race support and some development work. For us, it’s positive to have him on the team, contributing to the drivers, the engineering team, and hopefully he’ll rediscover his love for the sport. He’ll do some tests for us later in the year and we’ll see how he fares.”Horner said.
Ricciardo’s plan is to let a year pass off the slopes and assess some proposals for the 2024 season, and in that sense, the ideal thing for the Australian pilot would be to take a contract that allows him to be in the foreground again.
Things in Formula 1 will begin to move for the following season as we get closer to summer break. At this stage the teams usually announce contract renewals or announce the end of ties with their pilots, so we can only wait.
