When Formula 1 released a video on social media last week capturing drivers’ reactions to the announcement of its new race in Las Vegas, Daniel Ricciardo was shown joking he “was going to retire” but that he “will no more.”
It was an example of the wisecracking style has won him many fans. Yet he must feel some unease, and perhaps concern over his long-term future, as his career has not delivered the results which were expected of him since he left Red Bull three years ago.
McLaren have suffered their worst start to a Formula 1 season since 2017. Ricciardo and team mate Lando Norris failed to reach Q3 in either of the first two races.
But while Norris recently committed his long-term future to McLaren at 22 years old, Ricciardo is closer to the other end of his F1 career, aged 32, with no sign of a world championship title looming.
Ricciardo’s F1 career started back in 2011 as the Formula Renault and Formula Three champion got his break midway through the season at the…