Daniel Ricciardo handed route into F1 as team boss says ‘I’ll speak with him’
Axed driver Daniel Ricciardo has been handed a route back into F1 for next season after Haas chief Guenther Steiner pledged to 'speak with him'.
The 33-year-old Australian is in the paddock at his home Grand Prix this weekend in his new role as Red Bull reserve driver. A popular face in F1, Ricciardo will be in high demand at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne while fulfilling his media duties away from the track.
The star has won eight Grand Prix races from 232 starts in F1 – enjoying his best success with Red Bull before leaving in 2019 for Renault and then signing for McLaren in a doomed multi-year deal.
READ MORE: Daniel Ricciardo unveils new helmet for Australian GP – even though he's not racing
Red Bull marked their return Down Under with their new reserve driver by unveiling a new helmet made for him – despite the home boy not racing. With the season just two races old from an expanded 24-race calendar, many drivers are still getting used to new cars and in some instances, new teams.
Kevin Magnussen picked up Haas first point of the season in Jeddah two weeks ago while German driver Nico Hulkenberg finished 12th. And team principal Steiner said he would speak to Ricciardo about next season, but only after giving his current crop of drivers a chance.
"It's a bit early to speak about a driver change already for next year so let's see what we are doing with these drivers," said Steiner ahead of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix.
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"For sure, at some point, maybe I'll speak with him, but I cannot promise anything because if our two guys do a good job, I think [that's] where I stand with it.
"Everybody is [going to] want to speak with Daniel. The year off, maybe he knows again what he wants to do and he will be interesting for everybody in F1."
This is the first year since 2011 that Ricciardo, nicknamed the Honey Badger, has not got an F1 seat. Haas were also interested in signing the Australian at the end of last season – but the Australian chose to have a year on the sidelines after feeling a 'burn out'.
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