Despite Lewis Hamilton He said that it would be little for him, Mercedes will be the destiny of Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian pilot will sign with the Silver Arrows from next year as third reserve driverbehind Hamilton and George Russell.
This has been reported by ‘Racing News 365’, which ensures that the agreement has been signed. “Daniel Ricciardo, who does not have a grid seat for 2023 after not continuing with McLaren, has signed a contract as third Mercedes driver with options to run,” says the aforementioned medium.
And they claim that Ricciardo wants to be “cautious”: “The Australian later denied those rumours, but most likely he is just being cautious as anything can happen in Formula 1.”
Therefore, he will continue in Formula 1 but not as the first driver. All this after saying “no” to the Haas proposal, the last option left on the grid. The team is still looking for a replacement Mike Schumacherwho in the absence of two races still does not know his future.
Ricciardo has lost his seat at McLaren. In his place he will sit Oscar Piastri, who will share a box with Lando Norris. The results of the former Red Bull have been very poor compared to those of his teammate. He is twelfth with 35 points. Norris is seventh with 111.
Due to their poor results McLaren is behind Alpine by seven points. If Ricciardo had been at Norris’s level, McLaren would be fourth by far in the constructors’ championship.
Hamilton doesn’t see it
Hamilton was clear that Ricciardo was “too talented” for that position. But it seems that the pilot has ended up accepting. “I think Daniel should still be racing in 2023, he is too talented to be a third driver and he has earned the right to continue on the grid,” Hamilton said.
“It would be great if he was with us next year, but I think that being a reserve is not the best thing for him. If I were a representative, I would find him another seat for next year,” details the seven-time world champion. And, yes, he will finally be at Mercedes.
