For Horner, Alpine should choose Ricciardo in 2023

Daniel Ricciardo has a new strong support in its ranks. Christian Horner, team director Red Bull, knows the Australian well having made him race in his team between 2014 and 2018. In the podcast Beyond the Grid, the British boss believes that the current pilot McLaren, who will leave the team at the end of the 2022 season, deserves another chance in Formula 1.

According to Christian Horner, if he managed the team Alpine, he would try the bet with Daniel Ricciardo in 2023. “I think I probably would, to be honest, did he declare. They obviously know him from a few seasons ago, and he was very good in his last season there, scoring podiums. I think he's the type of guy we can rebuild. »

Ricciardo still has the same talent as he did in his Red Bull days, says Horner

After his stay at Renault (2019-2020), the experience at McLaren turned into an ordeal for Ricciardo. The Perth native never found the rhythm with the British team, far from his usual performance standards. After several months of rumors and small barbs between Zak Brown and the Australian pilot, McLaren and Ricciardo have decided to end the adventure at the end of the season. “Obviously it hasn't been a great experience for him [at McLaren] for whatever reason, judge Christian Horner. But you should just think about his performances when he was with us, some of the victories he had, the podiums, the amazing overtakes he was capable of. It's still there, I'm sure, and just needs a little reset. »

Lack of confidence, support or simply a decline in performance: Daniel Ricciardo's slow and long fall into hell does not allow him, at present, to be well placed for a seat in 2023. A forced departure from the Formula 1 would sadden the director of the Red Bull team, who believes that the Aussie is a “Very, very competent pilot. »

“It would be great to see him stay in this sport”

“As in all sports, confidence is an important element. For some reason he hasn't had the feeling with his car through the last two seasons and that has probably taken a toll on his confidence., speculates Christian Horner, who kept a good relationship with Ricciardo despite his surprise departure from Renault at the time. So I hope for him that he will have another opportunity and that he will be back on the starting grid next year… It's a real shame because I think he's a great personality and an excellent driver . It's obvious he's lost his way a bit, but it would be great to see him stay in the sport. »

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