Daniel Ricciardo praised by F1 boss as RETURN talk continues

Daniel Ricciardo won the 2021 Italian Grand Prix — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

Ricciardo praised by F1 boss as RETURN talk continues

Daniel Ricciardo was axed from F1

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Saturday 28 December 2024 23:00

Daniel Ricciardo has been praised by a Formula 1 team boss, as speculation continues to swirl about a future return to the sport.

The Australian driver was dropped by VCARB in the second half of the 2024 season for poor performance, mirroring his return to the sport a year previous when he replaced the underperforming Nyck de Vries.

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Ricciardo may have failed to match team-mate Yuki Tsunoda this season, but there are some who have not given up hope of him making a return to the sport, particularly with the arrival of Cadillac in F1.

The General Motors backed team will enter the sport in 2026, with reports suggesting that they could be eyeing up Ricciardo for one of their seats.

Could we see Daniel Ricciardo at Cadillac?

Daniel Ricciardo was originally replaced by Liam Lawson

Ricciardo receives boost from F1 team chief

Despite Ricciardo’s exit from F1, his former boss and RB team principal Laurent Mekies has offered a boost for the star.

Mekies complimented his old driver, where he claimed his technical feedback and expertise allowed Tsunoda to develop as a driver in 2024.

"There was a huge benefit for the team and for Yuki in terms of Daniel's technical feedback, direction of development, race-winning approach," Mekies said to Motorsport.com.

Yuki Tsunoda got the better of Daniel Ricciardo in 2024

"Having somebody that knows how it is in a team that wins races, that fights for championships, is setting the benchmark and that counts a lot in a time where you are trying to build the team and target better results.

"That benefit has been huge, also in terms of car understanding and car development. And I think Yuki has been developing a good relationship with Daniel to the extent that he has been able to absorb quite a lot of that and to keep progressing himself in that area."

Daniel Ricciardo Yuki Tsunoda Liam Lawson Cadillac Nyck de Vries General Motors