Daniel Ricciardo F1 hope emerges amid Mick Schumacher twist

Daniel Ricciardo's F1 future remains completely uncertain, but the good news for the Australian driver is that his services may still be sought after should McLaren instead pursue countryman Oscar Piastri.

McLaren are facing something of a dilemma, with the highly-rated Piastri angling to make his F1 debut with the team having sensationally spurned his junior sponsor Alpine.

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Alpine, formerly known as Renault, offered Piastri a race seat for 2023 after Fernando Alonso made the shock move to defect to Aston Martin - however the Australian publicly rejected the team which sponsored much of his hugely successful junior career.

Both McLaren and Alpine now find themselves in an awkward position, with Ricciardo firmly under contract for 2023 and having publicly stated himself that he has no plans to walk away from the team.

Ricciardo could end up negotiating a buyout with McLaren, with an exit from the team potentially in his best interest after struggling throughout the first half of the three-year deal he signed with the team.

If Piastri doesn't end up with either McLaren or Alpine, the former F3 and F2 champion will almost certainly be pursued by other teams - however Ricciardo still has suitors of his own.

Haas have emerged as a potential candidate for Ricciardo's services, after ESPN reported team principal Guenther Steiner had contacted the Aussie star during the mid-season break.

It remains to be seen whether Haas, which lacks the heavyweight financial backing of many other teams, could afford Ricciardo's asking price should they choose to move on from second year driver Mich Schumacher.

Schumacher, the son of seven-time F1 champion Michael, has shown signs of improvement in 2022, but his progress has been dampened by two serious crashes in Saudi Arabia and Monaco.

Haas have also show interest in former F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi, who will run in two practice sessions at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Franchorchamps.

Though much has yet to play out before the 2023 season gets underway, it seems increasingly likely that McLaren and Ricciardo will part ways at season's end.

Daniel Ricciardo fighting on amid difficult F1 campaign with McLaren

Ricciardo opened up to Speedcafe last week about how he is managing the season so far.

The pressure is on Ricciardo to perform in the final nine races of the season as he enters the Belgian GP trailing teammate Lando Norris in points, 76 to 19.

He said the chance to compete among such a small and elite group of drivers and teams continued to motivate him, despite his troubles on track this year.

“The competition is such like a small, 0.001 per cent of a group. So to be able to not only be part of that group, but to compete inside that group, that’s such a unique thing in itself," he said.

“And so I love that.

“The truth is, the highs you get are just so high because so much goes into it.

“Of course you take risks, like to win a race for example, you haven’t gone for a Sunday drive; you’ve put it all on the line, the team has, you’ve pushed your body, mentally and physically.

“So then the high and the reward is pretty amazing and pretty spectacular."

However there has been calls for F1 to move on from the eight-time grand prix winner, with former F1 ace Ralf Schumacher tipping Ricciardo wouldn't find his way back into the sport should he fail to find a place for next season.

However, he did admit that Alpine, who Ricciardo left to join McLaren in 2021, would actuallu be the most logical place for him to race in 2023.

“Personally, I can‘t imagine him getting another chance in Formula 1. But I wouldn’t know who Alpine should take at the moment," he said.

“The names are there, with every cockpit.

“Mick (Schumacher) hasn’t signed a contract yet either, so he would be a candidate. A candidate with speed, as you have seen.

“Nico Hulkenberg is also still in the starting blocks.”

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