With the 2022 season complete, Daniel Ricciardo’s one-year sabbatical from full-time Formula 1 has begun, with the Australian planning an incredible trip already!
After two challenging seasons with McLaren, the fan-favourite has decided that he needs time to himself, in a bid to reactivate the hunger and determination he once had as a Red Bull driver.
Perhaps returning to Red Bull in 2023 as a development driver will help the 33-year-old rediscover his true-self, with his time at McLaren and Renault having been arguably four wasted years of remarkable talent.
It would be safe to assume that the entire F1 community wants to see the Honey Badger back at his very best, something that could happen should he get himself a competitive seat for 2024.
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This could very well come at Red Bull, depending on how the relationship between Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez is next season.
The duo publicly fell out towards the end of 2022 at the Brazilian Grand Prix, after the Dutchman defied team orders who were instructing him to give Checo P6.
Whilst they stated that they’d made up, it won’t truly be seen until they are battling in 2023 if everything is back to normality in the Red Bull camp.
Until then, though, Ricciardo will be completing simulator work, testing, and marketing campaigns for the Austrians, with the latter seemingly fitting Ricciardo’s personality to a tee.
He has already revealed that he only plans to attend a dozen races in 2023, with a trip across America on a mini motorbike set to take place in between.
“One thing I want to do is I want to ride across America on a mini motorbike, basically from New York to L.A.,” Ricciardo said, “and not go the line of least resistance.”
When discussing why he wants to venture across the USA on a 110cc bike, Ricciardo admitted that he wants to “soak everything in” and “appreciate all the little things”.
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“I want to take the chance of having a year off to slow down,” added the Aussie.
“And I think also, what a 110cc going across America would symbolise is slowing down, and just taking everything in.
“We’re always thinking about getting somewhere as quick as we can, getting the job done, getting out, and it’s like no, I want to soak everything in, and just be. Just go back to basics, and appreciate all the little things, and also the unknown.”