After a two-year arguably failed stint at McLaren, Daniel Ricciardo and the team decided to part ways mutually at the end of the season. Despite having a year left on his contract, the Honey Badger felt he needed to take a year off from Formula 1. Since then, teams have approached him for the regular or reserve driver role. While he has ruled out racing as a regular next year, the latest hint points to the other role.

In Formula 1, your teammate is considered your biggest rival. You cannot afford to lose to the driver who is driving the same car as you. Daniel Ricciardo has lost out in the drivers’ standings two years straight to his teammate Lando Norris. While McLaren brought Ricciardo in as the experienced driver, he has failed to live up to expectations, failing to match young Lando’s performances.

Will Daniel Ricciardo continue in Formula1 as a reserve driver?

Daniel Ricciardo registered only a single win in his two years with McLaren last year in Italy. While last year was disappointing despite the win, the current season has gone worse. After much deliberation, Ricciardo felt he needed to stay away from the grid for a year to rekindle his love for the sport. He might just do that by not staying completely cut off from F1 and taking the third driver’s role.

Speaking ahead of the Brazilian GP, The Race quoted Daniel as saying, “Fortunately I feel like I’ve done enough to make this case a little unique and cater for it in a way – obviously it has to work on both side – but it has to sit well with me.”

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“It’s why I don’t want to just jump on the grid again next year, I don’t want to just to jump into something,” he continued. “I want to take this opportunity to make sure I get enough time for myself to feel the way I need to feel about the sport again.”

Ricciardo in talks with Mercedes and Red Bull for the third driver role

Daniel Ricciardo has proven himself as a driver with tremendous pedigree. The last two years may not have gone as planned, but he has done enough to prove his worth. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff recently lauded him for his character.

Toto said, “For us, we very much like him, he’s a great character but we are not in a position yet who is going to be our third driver.” 

“Personality, and he’s been around for a long time. He knows these cars inside out so that could be really advantageous. But I don’t want to put any rumors out there because we haven’t decided.”

Wolff also revealed the Australian driver is in contact with other teams as well, including Red Bull.

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Where do you think the Honey Badger will land next year? Will it be Mercedes? Will it be Red Bull? Or will he stay completely away from F1?