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In the round-up: Daniel Ricciardo says he’s accepted the possibility he may not find a team to drive for in the 2023 Formula 1 season.
In brief
Ricciardo braced for year out
After agreeing with McLaren to cut his tenure at the team short by a year, Ricciardo says he’s prepared for next year to be the first time he’s been absent from the F1 grid since he made his debut for HRT in 2011.
“I’ve certainly accepted, if I’m not to be on the grid next year, I’m okay with that,” said Ricciardo following Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix. “So I’ve accepted that I’m not going to do everything, or my [management] team’s not going to do everything just to put me on the grid if it’s not right or it doesn’t make sense.
“Obviously this year’s been challenging and if I am on the grid, I want to know that it’s a place that I can enjoy it and feel like I can thrive. An environment I feel I can thrive in. I don’t want to just jump into a car for the sake of it.”
Last year’s Italian Grand Prix winner retired from Sunday’s race while running in eighth place, having started fourth. “Days like this certainly are pretty frustrating,” he admitted.
“But give it 24, 48 hours and I’ll get over it and try to understand what’s best for next year. Not in an overconfident or cocky way, but it’s not meant to be, then I’m totally okay with that. I’m not going to be too proud. We haven’t certainly given up on it, but that’s kind of where my head’s at, at the moment.”
F1 invites views on sprint races
A survey on the official F1 FanVoice website indicates the series is considering yet more changes to its sprint race format, which was introduced last year to a mixed reception from fans. The poll invites respondents to indicate what they like most and least about the format.
It also seeks to gauge viewers’ attitudes towards potential changes to the format, including making them “‘stand alone’ races not related to defining positions on the starting grid” and “providing an opportunity for reserve [or] younger drivers to compete in F1 cars.” Reverse grids, touted again by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali in a recent interview, are not mentioned.
Blakely wins F1 Esports opener
McLaren Shadow’s Lucas Blakely won the opening race of the F1 Esports championship in his first apperance for the team. He resisted a last-lap charge by reigning champion Jarno Opmeer, who passed the other McLaren…
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