Daniel Ricciardo doesn’t see any pressure with him being linked to Red Bull F1 seat again, as he would like to have rumours spread about it.
Ever since he has made his F1 comeback, he is already in link for a Red Bull seat especially in place of Sergio Perez. The Mexican was under fire all-through 2023 and his contract beyond 2024 is already in danger if he doesn’t improve his results.
With Max Verstappen already set, Red Bull has the option of retaining Perez or get Ricciardo in from AlphaTauri. The rumours are already around and the Australian is fine to have them on because it means they value him and his talent still.
If there will be questions and rumours, he is okay with it and he doesn’t see it as pressure. “I definitely don’t see it as pressure, in terms of when I think of 12 months ago, a lot of the – call it rumours for like a better word, normally negatively directed at me,” said Verstappen. “For me to be in a conversation again whether it is a rumour or not about ‘ oh could you be back in a Red Bull one day’, you know 12 months ago or 18 months ago, I would never would have thought that would even be kind of conversation, even if it just a rumour.
“I don’t think a rumour like that would exist, so I think that just makes me smile. I think it gives me a lot of encouragement that just through the highs and the lows, the ups and downs, if you stay on the straight and narrow, crazy things can happen. And I think that’s really also just part of this, this kind of comeback and this return is. I’m just going to give it all I got and if something crazy happens, like that’s really cool.
“And I think I’ll take it in a stride and whatever, but I’m also not getting ahead of myself with that, you know, I still see that, you know, I’ve said that would be a fairytale kind of way to finish my career as a Red Bull driver. But yeah, I still use the word fairy tale because I know that it’s certainly not even close to being guaranteed or anything.
“I just want to kick some butt here. Very happy. I’ve got a seat next year. I’m very happy that they signed me when I was on the sideline crying about my hand. So yeah, ultimately, just happy to be back in the family and even if it’s not the big team. Yeah, I’m just in a very happy place being here,” summed up Ricciardo.
Here’s F1 2023 teams’ tier order: https://formularapida.net/f1-2023-teams-categorised-in-tier-system-for-their-performances/
Here’s F1 2023 drivers’ tier order: https://formularapida.net/f1-2023-drivers-categorised-in-tier-system-for-their-performances/
Here’s Yuki Tsunoda on his radio rants
Here’s Daniel Ricciardo on people in paddock encouraging him
Here’s Yuki Tsunoda on consistent 2023
Here’s Daniel Ricciardo on getting the love back
Here’s Daniel Ricciardo on not wanting to dictate happiness by non-wins
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