Daniel Ricciardo admitted his desire to return to the Formula 1 grid in 2024 – but not "at any cost".
The Australian driver revealed he would want to make a return to the sport but only if certain conditions are met. Ricciardo expressed his desire to win more races and suggested he would only consider making a return if an opportunity arose at one of the top teams.
Speaking to Sky Sports he said: "I still am at a point where it's not at any cost, it's not just to be back on the grid. A lot of the reason for taking this year off was that I didn't want to just jump back into a car, any car just to be one of the F1 drivers.
"I want to be back with a top team and obviously a team where I have my confidence back and my mojo." That confidence is what was missing for Ricciardo in his final season with McLaren last year. At time he looked a shell of himself, and the anguish he was feeling was most noticeable after a particularly dismal United States Grand Prix.
The 33-year-old driver was released by McLaren at the end of last season after a difficult two years and is now a Red Bull reserve driver. But despite that tricky spell with the Woking-based team, he remains the only driver to pick up a win for the team since 2012.
Of the drivers out of a seat this season, Ricciardo is certainly the most qualified having won eight Grands Prix – but most of them were secured at least five years ago. The 33-year-old's form for McLaren led to some doubts over whether he is still at the top of his game.
Ricciardo admitted his desire to return to a top team is optimistic. He said: "I think also that's where, maybe when I look back, that's a weakness of mine, but in a way it's a strength as I feel better at the front of the grid. I feel like I perform in those situations with a bit more pressure and a bit more emphasis on a podium."
Ricciardo's popularity amongst fans helped him to land his current reserve role and could also be key to his return to the grid. But it remains to be seen whether or not there will be an opening for him – and an opportunity which he is keen to take.
The likelihood of a seat becoming available for him at a top team, though, seems highly unlikely. Red Bull have Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez locked in while Ferrari are set for at least another year after this with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. At Mercedes, George Russell is tied down but an opening could appear if Lewis Hamilton chooses to retire at the end of his current deal.
