Daniel Ricciardo's comeback drive at the end of the Mexican Grand Prix looked like an advert for his services post-2023. Despite picking up a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with Yuki Tsunoda, the McLaren driver still overtook three more cars before finishing far enough ahead of Esteban Ocon to seal P7 and the fan vote for driver of the day. McLaren Team Principal Andreas Seidl believes there is plenty more for Ricciardo still to show in F1, both as a driver and personality off the track. "It's clear that with [Ricciardo] leaving the team we're losing, not just a great driver but a great personality," he told media, including RacingNews365.com . "He will be missed in the team, and that's where we both committed to make sure that this last year is a good one together. "We're still trying to put out some good performance in order to finish our chapter together on a high. "I don't want to go into any speculation for what he's doing next, whatever he's doing next, or wherever he is driving next, but that's exactly what his next team will be getting."
Ricciardo: Move not dependant on Hamilton
Ricciardo will very likely be taking a sabbatical for 2023, while looking at opportunities to return to the grid for 2024. With speculation pointing towards a reserve driver role for Mercedes, it is likely that he would be looking at a race seat elsewhere given that Lewis Hamilton has stated that he wants to continue with the team long-term . But Ricciardo has been clear that any move is not dependant on whether any driver stays at a team post-2023. "The truth is I want him to stay in the sport. He's one of the greatest ever to do it and I think competing with him, going wheel-to-wheel with him is fun, it's awesome," said Ricciardo. "I certainly wish to do that more in the future and that's where it currently lies. "I don't think it's relative to what others do. Opportunities will arise when they do, but I'm not banking on anyone doing something so I can find my way. "I want to take the time necessary, keep a little bit of distance to the sport and rebuild myself, but then if something makes sense in ‘24, [I'll] come back with a vengeance and have some fun and hopefully race at the front."
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