Daniel Ricciardo is an eight-time race winner and a proven talent behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car, however, next year he finds himself without a seat, following his release from McLaren.
Despite his most recent win coming as recently as Monza last year, the Australian has failed to set the world alight at McLaren, generally struggling to tame his McLaren and being outperformed by young Brit Lando Norris.
It now emerges that the 33-year-old may have a last resort to stay on the grid for next year, with Haas boss Guenther Steiner refusing to rule out the signing of the Aussie fan favourite.
With Mick Schumacher steady at best this season the American-owned team have yet refused to announce if the son of legend Michael Schumacher will keep his seat for next year.
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Fellow German Nico Hulkenberg is reportedly waiting in the wings should the young driver fail to impress in the final few races of the season.
“I think he’s a good driver and I don’t know how he got in the situation he’s in now, but I think he needs to come clean with himself and decide what he’s going to do,” said Steiner when quizzed about Ricciardo.
“He was a race winner just last year,” he continued.
“I rate him as a driver, I have no idea why he doesn’t perform right now. That is for him to figure out.”
Ricciardo currently looks set for a year away from the grid, being spotted telling Sergio Perez in Zandvoort that he plans to take a year off before returning in 2024.
Lewis Hamilton said in a recent interview that Ricciardo is too good for a reserve driver role, which has been rumoured at Mercedes, and that he should be on the grid instead.
It appears Guenther Steiner might be willing to make this happen.
“If he’s interested in us, he’s not shy to call me up.
“I am not going to chase him down,” he said.
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“I want him to decide what he wants to do for himself, first, before being talked into something
“For us he would be a big hit. He was a race winner and now he is without a job,” Steiner concluded.
It remains to be seen whether Ricciardo would be willing to race for a team further down the grid, but if he wants to remain on the grid for 2023, it appears this could be his only option.