Daniel Ricciardo not ruling out break from F1 in 2023

McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo has said he will not rule out the option of having a break from Formula 1 in 2023 if he feels that’s his best avenue.

The Aussie, as things stand, has no drive for next year with it being confirmed ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend that he’d be leaving the Woking-based team and with it then being revealed, pretty unsurprisingly, that Oscar Piastri was going to be replacing him over the course of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend.

Ricciardo has been linked with a move to the likes of Haas and Alpine but, as yet, there’s no confirmation over where he might head for 2023, though he has said that if he is driving next year he wants to be in Formula 1 and Formula 1 alone.

If there’s no room for him in one of the 20 seats for next season, though, that provides Danny Ric with a predicament, and one that he might have to solve as either a reserve driver for one of the big teams or by taking a year out.

Indeed, he’s hinted he’d be open to the idea of a sabbatical if that appeared the best route to take, as it might help him reset after a tough couple of seasons, though he is also aware that time out of F1 might seem temporary at first but can soon become something a little more permanent.

He said:

“I think there’s pros and cons with all of it. There’s pros with having some time off as well, currently the 18 months I’ve had has been more challenging than not so maybe some time away would be good.

“But then also staying active is good. That’s why I kind of want to hear everything. Even if it’s a reserve, I don’t want to be too proud to say I’m too good for that.

“I just want to hear everything and see what makes sense. It could be something that sets me up better for the future and next year may be one