During the 2023 season, Daniel Ricciardo found himself without a seat, forcing him to watch the Monaco GP from the sidelines. The 34-year-old expressed his feelings of being left out after being released from his previous team. Ricciardo was then assigned the role of third driver for Red Bull Racing in the 2023 campaign.
Although Ricciardo initially found his new role to be less stressful, he couldn’t help but feel jealous of the 20 drivers who were participating in the 2023 qualifying session. He missed the intensity and thrill of pushing a race car to its limits.
However, Ricciardo made a mid-season comeback in the 2023 F1 season when he took over the seat at AlphaTauri (Now RB). He now races alongside his teammate, feeling the excitement of being back on the track.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen emerged as the winner of the 2023 Monaco GP, leading a phenomenal race despite the rain causing some obstacles. Ricciardo, who used to be Verstappen’s teammate, had the advantage of watching his former teammate’s impressive performance.
Ricciardo admired Verstappen’s confidence during the race, especially considering the close proximity of the walls on the street track. He praised Verstappen’s ability to maneuver the car without fear, which only comes from being comfortable and in tune with the vehicle.
Having observed his competitors’ driving styles while sitting out most of the 2023 F1 championship, Ricciardo is now looking forward to competing for wins and podium finishes with VCARB in the upcoming 2024 campaign.