After failing to find a seat in F1 for the 2023 season, Daniel Ricciardo made a return to Red Bull, the team with whom he won seven races between 2014 and 2018. However, his return wasn’t as glamourous, because it was in the form of a third driver, behind Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. If Christian Horner’s recent words are to be taken into account, that is as high as Ricciardo can go at the team currently.
Ricciardo is one of F1’s most popular drivers. Despite his absence as a full-time driver, fans yearn to see him every race weekend, even if it is as a third driver on the track. A lot of them also want him to replace Perez at Red Bull. The duo of Verstappen and Ricciardo was adored by fans, and a reunion would send the fanbase into a frenzy.
However, Horner feels that Ricciardo can’t be a candidate to replace Perez. This is mainly because of the 33-year-old’s failed stint at Renault, followed by a nightmarish spell at McLaren.
Daniel Ricciardo doesn’t pass Helmut Marko’s test
Christian Horner is the main boss at Red Bull, being their CEO and team principal. However, a lot of decisions on the sporting aspect are taken by their chief advisor Helmut Marko. Considered to be the brains behind Red Bull’s success, Horner feels that Ricciardo hasn’t convinced the Austrian that he’s ready to make a competitive return with Red Bull.
As reported by Formula1.de, Ricciardo hasn’t passed the “Helmut Round” according to Horner. The Brit revealed that it is an internal parameter that the team uses to determine who the best driver is. Ricciardo unfortunately, is quite behind Perez and of course, Verstappen.
Horner went on to say that during his first Red Bull stint, Marko was a big Ricciardo fan. This was mainly because of his personality off the track, but also because of his fearless approach to racing and immense confidence. After he left them for Renault in 2019 and then joined McLaren, this confidence disappeared.
McLaren and Renault stints destroyed Ricciardo’s confidence
Horner feels that something about Ricciardo’s driving ability disappeared when he drove for McLaren and Renault. Had that not happened, he would probably still be good enough to drive for Red Bull. For now, however, he remains stuck in his role as the team’s third driver.
Horner states that, with Renault and McLaren, Ricciardo, “missed the determination with which he shone with us. Something happened to him, which slowed him down in his competitiveness.”
Ricciardo is firmly set in performing his simulator and marketing duties for Red Bull. However, Horner and Marko will give him the chance to drive to Rb19 later this year. Daniel Ricciardo will be a part of the Pirelli tyre test taking place at Silverstone this July.
