Daniel Ricciardo handed F1 return boost

Daniel Ricciardo has not raced in F1 since the Singapore Grand Prix last year, soon before Red Bull opted to sideline the Australian in favour of Liam Lawson.

His abrupt exit from the RB race seat initiated his retirement from F1, something the eight-time grand prix winner has seemingly made peace with.

However, the threat of suspension looming over Max Verstappen has left some questioning whether a one-off appearance for the Milton Keynes-based team could be either the perfect send off for Ricciardo, or a way to reinvigorate his F1 career.

The 35-year-old remains incredibly popular and, at worst, could provide the six-time constructors' a suitable short-term solution to its second seat worries.

That would afford Isack Hadjar the time to develop at Racing Bulls before making the step into the seat alongside Verstappen in a year or two.

Alternatively, with Cadillac joining the grid for 2026, the American squad could turn to someone like Ricciardo to lead the team through his experience. Although, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez remain more likely options on that front.

Nonetheless, in a recent poll by RacingNews365, a majority of respondents voiced their support for the Australian to seek a return to the paddock, with just shy of 70 percent voting he deserves another shot.

Check out the full results below. Let us know what you think about the results by leaving a comment.