Ricciardo provides a sub-plot from the sidelines

LONDON : Daniel Ricciardo has no immediate plans to go racing but even from the sidelines of Formula One the Australian will still be providing one of the sub-plots of the season that starts on March 5.

The 33-year-old eight times grand prix winner is back at Red Bull as their third driver for 2023, supporting double world champion Max Verstappen and Mexican Sergio Perez in the simulator.

He can expect plenty of marketing and media duties and is also likely to be called on for crowd-pleasing tyre-smoking demonstration runs.

The question is whether one of the sport's most popular characters, who left McLaren at the end of last year after two tough seasons alongside Lando Norris, can make a comeback in 2024 - and how hungry he really is.

Ricciardo, an ever-smiling star of the Netflix docu-series 'Drive to Survive', suggested to reporters at Red Bull's season launch in New York this month that even he did not really know the answer.

"I'm not necessarily looking to do things or other races this year," he said of his first year off the F1 grid since 2011.

"It's going to be more if I've got free time go and ride some dirt bikes with friends and ride across parts of America. Something like that. Just do adventure things, a little bit more fun, a bit more light-hearted.

"I know these things will give me a lot of good head space, clarity and some good life experience and stories to tell."

Ricciardo said he was not planning on setting foot in the F1 paddock until his home race weekend in Melbourne at the end of March and early April, and was not yet "foaming at the mouth" to get behind the wheel.

His long-time coach Michael Italiano has already found a new job, working with Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri.

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