Daniel Ricciardo cops telling blow amid flurry of F1 moves

Daniel Ricciardo appears all but certain to be in the F1 sidelines in 2023, after Alpha Tauri and Alpine made major announcements regarding their driver line-ups for next season.

Set to part ways with McLaren at the end of this season, Ricciardo has been weighing up his options after his two seasons with the team fell well short of expectations.

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The 33-year-old is still determined to compete in F1, but now appears a sure bet to take on a reserve driver role next year in hopes of a more competitive seat becoming available in 2024.

Both Williams and Haas have an open seat for next season, but with both teams still racing at the back of the pack in 2022, neither has been an attractive option for Ricciardo.

An unlikely return to Alpine (formerly Renault) is off the table after the French manufacturer signed countryman Pierre Gasly to partner Esteban Ocon next season.

Subsequently, Red Bull sister team Alpha Tauri announced the signing of Nyck de Vries, the former F2 champion who made a stunning F1 debut at the Italian GP substituting for Williams driver Alex Albon.

Ricciardo has been linked to a potential reserve driver role with Mercedes for next season, but any hope he may have had of taking over from seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton following the Briton's eventual retirement was put on ice.

Hamilton said he wasn't planning on leaving F1 for at least another four or five years, seemingly taking another potential option off the table for the West Australian.

Speaking ahead of the Japanese GP, Ricciardo said he wasn't going to rush into any decisions about his future.

“It’s not as simple as just the first contract that comes in front of me, sign it, and yeah, I’m back on the grid,” he said.

“I’m not rushed about making a decision. It’s more just if I keep going with the rest of the season, the more it will become clearer what’s going to be best for me.

“There’s nothing you don’t know. There’s nothing that I’m not telling you. There’ll be full transparency from that point of view and when I know what I’m doing, then everyone will know, they’ll hear it.”

Gasly thrilled to join French F1 manufacture Alpine

While the latest round of F1 moves comes as another telling blow in Ricciardo's hopes of remaining on the F1 grid, it represented an exciting moment for Gasly.

He joins fellow Frenchman Ocon at Alpine, after the team's messy saga involving former junior driver Oscar Piastri spurning the team in favour of taking over Ricciardo's seat at McLaren.

Gasly, who claimed a memorable first F1 win at the 2020 Italian GP, said joining the French team was a 'special moment'.

“What motivated me was the development of Alpine over the past three years, their performance constantly improving,” Gasly said.

“They won their first race last year and this season they have been fighting to be the fourth force. They have a complete package and similar ambitions to mine.”

De Vries had to take a more winding path to F1, moving into Formula E as well as World Endurance Championship stints with Toyota.

He remained in touch with F1, participating in several practice sessions this season, before Gasly's move to Alpine allowed Alpha Tauri to swoop in.

“After Formula 2, I took a slightly different path with motorsport, but F1 has always been my dream and I’m grateful to be able to fulfil it,” said De Vries.

“I’ve had a lot of chances to experience the 2022 car this year and I think that has put me in a great position for the upcoming season.”

With AAP

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