In Formula 1, the partnership between a driver and a team is viewed as a crucial relationship, both depending on each other for their success. However, the 2021 season saw this union turn into a dramatic struggle for Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren. It wasn’t just about laps and lap times; it was about the harmony between driver and machine, something that ultimately led to the Aussie’s bitter separation from the British team under the leadership of Zak Brown. But as it turns out, it was a separation that did more good than harm.

The Honey Badger, known for his smooth driving style, found himself grappling with the inconsistencies of the MCL35M. The mismatch was profound, with the car’s erratic performance robbing Ricciardo of the confidence required for those high-speed cornering maneuvers. Any hopes for a change in driving dynamics under the new regulations in 2022 also proved unfruitful, as the MCL36 carried over some of the traits of its predecessor. And that was when Ricciardo started seeing clearly, in that, he realized what was coming his way.

Daniel Ricciardo was losing motivation to get back to the racetrack in 2022

Despite the occasional glimmer of brilliance, like his triumph at the Italian Grand Prix in his debut season with McLaren, Ricciardo’s overall stint failed to live up to the sky-high expectations. The struggle was evident, and as the 2022 season unfolded race after race, McLaren’s patience wore thin. The Woking-based team capitalized on a controversy between Oscar Piastri and Alpine to sign the young Aussie as the replacement for Ricciardo, although he still had a year left in his contract.

However, the recent revelation from Ricciardo in a candid conversation with Motorsport Week brought clarity to the whole situation. The decision to step away from Formula 1 for a season wasn’t a retreat. It was a strategic pause, a chance for the Australian driver to rediscover his passion for the sport.  Expressing what he was feeling when the 2023 season started, Ricciardo explained, “I was just kind of at a place where I was like, ‘Alright, I feel good about this.” But, at the end of the day, the Aussie knew it was for the better.

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“I really needed this.’ I was still very invested in it. I was watching very intently, but I was just proud that I was giving myself the time off because I still hadn’t quite got my answer [about wanting to get back] yet.” But the Honey Badger revealed that he always knew where his heart lay. “I think deep down, I knew I still wanted to do it, but I was still kind of just searching. I didn’t want to just be like, ‘Yeah, I still want to race,’ I wanted it to be, ‘I just can’t wait to be waking up every morning and get back on track.’ That’s what I just wanted to kind of go through and build up over time,” said Ricciardo.

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Despite being happy to return to the grid in 2023, Daniel Ricciardo also feels for what it might have been like for the driver he replaced just 10 races into his F1 career.

Ricciardo feels sorry for Nyck de Vries after replacing him mid-season

The Australian driver, originally planning a year-long sabbatical, found himself back in the driver’s seat sooner than anticipated. His return, however, came at the expense of Nyck de Vries, who faced an abrupt end to his F1 journey with AlphaTauri before the Hungarian Grand Prix. De Vries, who had shown promise with a notable debut for Williams in 2022, found himself on shaky ground at AlphaTauri after just 10 races as the Dutch driver struggled to maintain momentum.

Ricciardo, in an appearance on the Beyond The Grid podcast, expressed empathy for de Vries, drawing parallels with his own journey less than a year earlier. “I’d been through it less than a year earlier [with McLaren]. I understood it, but it’s all very, I guess subjective, you know, your understanding,“ Ricciardo shared.

The decision to bring Ricciardo back proved instrumental for AlphaTauri, as the Faenza-based team clinched points in four of the last five races, propelling them to eighth place in the standings. Do you think the Honey Badger can climb his way back up to the Red Bull seat? Share your insights with us in the comments.

Watch This Story | Daniel Ricciardo faces Red Bull prodigy threat in F1 return