Button reiterates Ricciardo concern but insists he hasn’t ‘checked out’
Jenson Button reiterated his stance that Daniel Ricciardo would be wasted in a third driver role following the Australian's anonymous performance at the United States Grand Prix.
Ricciardo endured another barren weekend for McLaren in Austin, not getting out of Q1 and then coming home a distance 16th in the race as teammate Lando Norris took an excellent sixth.
The 33-year-old has already given up on landing a race seat for next season but is open to a third driver role and has held talks with Mercedes and one of his former teams, Red Bull.
READ MORE: Daniel Ricciardo 'has deal' for 2023 but Mercedes move ruled out
Button, the 2009 world champion, is sad to see the eight-time grand prix winner struggling so much but believes he would have been better served pursuing a drive with a team like Williams or Haas for 2023.
Williams have only just confirmed American Logan Sargeant as their second driver for next season, provided he secures the necessary number of Super Licence points before the end of 2022, while Haas are yet to decide whether to retain Mick Schumacher.
“Seeing him right at the back of the field, I can’t explain it,” Button, a friend of Ricciardo’s, told Sky Sports after the US Grand Prix. “It’s a tough one. I don’t think he’s checked out. Daniel will always want to fight but it’s just not working for him.”
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On Ricciardo’s future plans, Button added: “I don’t think you can advise him in that situation, it’s got to be about what he’s feeling inside.
“But I can’t see Daniel in the paddock as a third driver, it’s just weird for me, it doesn’t work, but that's obviously what he’s chosen to do. It feels right to him.
“I’d rather him be racing further down in the grid in a team where he can prove himself and maybe get a driver further up the grid [in the future]. As a third driver, everyone will just remember his final race this year.”
Button, a Williams embassodor, made similar comments earlier this month, saying: “I don’t know what he’s going to get out of being a third driver, that’s the thing. He’s not a young driver so he can’t drive the car next year at race weekends. So he’s not really going to get anything out of it."
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