Daniel Ricciardo received shock Mercedes F1 offer to become Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate

A composite image of Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton — Photo: © IMAGO

Formula 1

Daniel Ricciardo received shock Mercedes F1 offer to become Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate

Could Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton have been team-mates?

Originally written by Sam Cook. This version is a translation.

Thursday 21 May 2026 23:00

A bombshell claim that Daniel Ricciardo once refused an offer to become Lewis Hamilton's team-mate at Mercedes has been revealed by an F1 insider.

Even after his recent retirement, Ricciardo remains a fan-favourite driver and a legend of the sport, achieving seven of his eight race victories during a spell with Red Bull between 2014 and 2018.

The Australian star finished third in the world championship on two occasions in that period with the energy drink giants, but never realised his dream of becoming champion.

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However, his best years came at a time when Mercedes were dominating the sport, finishing behind Hamilton and his team-mate at the time Nico Rosberg, on both of the occasions where he finished third in the standings.

Rosberg won his first and only world championship in 2016, beating Hamilton, opting to retire from the sport instantly after achieving his goal at the age of just 31.

But Sky Sports F1 presenter Rachel Brookes has revealed the team offered the position to Ricciardo first, in what would have created a dream team at Mercedes of Ricciardo and Hamilton.

Ricciardo opted to stay with Red Bull, before Hamilton and Mercedes went on to dominate the next four seasons.

In her new book, Drive (released 07/05/26, published by Michael O’Mara Books), Brookes revealed that Ricciardo had an offer to replace Rosberg after his retirement from the sport.

“You’ll be hard pushed to find a driver who admits to a poor decision, but did you know, for example, that Daniel Ricciardo had an offer to replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes when Rosberg left the sport in a shock announcement at the end of 2016?

“Yes, the Mercedes team that won in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. While Ricciardo was tied into a contract with Red Bull at the time, we all know that contracts are just bits of paper if both sides agree to end them (for an inordinate amount of money, no doubt!).

“Instead, Ricciardo moved to Renault in 2019 and then McLaren in 2021, just before their resurgence.

“Fernando Alonso’s name always pops up when talking about drivers being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He left Ferrari to join McLaren in 2015, just as they were struggling, which would explain why he told me, ‘You need to be in the right place at the right moment. You have to have a good car to be able to win.’

“To get it right, you need a crystal ball, a dartboard and probably a seance with Enzo Ferrari himself. And that is before you even get to try the car on the track.”

Ricciardo's F1 career trajectory

After completing two more seasons at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen instead of joining Mercedes, Ricciardo opted for a shock switch to Renault ahead of 2019.

The Aussie driver wanted to be a number one driver once more, and Renault had ambitions of returning to their old championship-winning form.

However, it wasn't to be, and Ricciardo spent two seasons mainly dawdling around the midfield.

Ricciardo went on to join McLaren for 2021, and it was here that he claimed his eighth and final race victory in the sport, at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.

However, throughout two years spent at McLaren, Ricciardo was largely outperformed by young team-mate Lando Norris, and McLaren opted to terminate his contract early after 2022.

Ricciardo was then welcomed back into the Red Bull family with open arms, first as a reserve driver, and then as a full-time racer with sister team Racing Bulls.

Ricciardo had his contract terminated early once again because of poor performance however, and he bowed out of the sport for good in September 2024.

F1 Red Bull Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Daniel Ricciardo