Daniel Ricciardo was once offered the chance to join the all-conquering Mercedes Formula 1 team and partner seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in what could have become one of the sport’s most iconic driver line-ups.
The stunning revelation has emerged years after Daniel Ricciardo established himself as one of Formula 1’s biggest fan favourites during his successful spell with Red Bull Racing. Ricciardo claimed seven of his eight Grand Prix victories with Red Bull between 2014 and 2018 and twice finished third in the drivers’ championship during an era dominated by Mercedes.
At the time, Mercedes were virtually unbeatable, with Hamilton and Nico Rosberg battling each other for championships. Rosberg famously defeated Hamilton to win the 2016 world title before making the shock decision to retire from Formula 1 immediately after securing the crown.
His unexpected exit left a vacant seat at Mercedes ahead of the 2017 season, triggering intense speculation across the paddock about who would replace the newly crowned champion. While the team eventually signed Valtteri Bottas from Williams, it has now been revealed that Ricciardo was actually approached first.
According to Sky Sports F1 presenter Rachel Brookes in her recently released book Drive, Mercedes made a serious attempt to lure the Australian away from Red Bull at the height of the Silver Arrows’ dominance.
Brookes explained that Ricciardo had the opportunity to replace Rosberg and race alongside Hamilton in a partnership many fans still dream about today. Had the move happened, Ricciardo would have joined a Mercedes team that went on to dominate Formula 1 for four consecutive seasons from 2017 to 2020.
Despite the enormous opportunity, Ricciardo chose loyalty and stability over a dramatic switch, deciding to remain with Red Bull instead of breaking his existing contract. The decision ultimately became one of Formula 1’s biggest “what if” stories.
Brookes wrote that although Ricciardo was tied to Red Bull contractually, Formula 1 contracts can often be negotiated out of if all parties are willing to reach an agreement. Mercedes were reportedly prepared to make a major effort to secure his signature following Rosberg’s retirement bombshell.
Instead, Bottas joined Hamilton at Mercedes and helped the team continue its historic run of success, while Ricciardo remained with Red Bull before later moving to Renault, McLaren, and eventually returning to the Red Bull family through AlphaTauri and RB.
The revelation is likely to reignite debate among fans over whether Ricciardo missed the biggest opportunity of his career. Many believe the Australian could have challenged for world championships had he accepted the Mercedes offer, especially given the dominance of the team during that era.
While Ricciardo enjoyed memorable moments throughout his Formula 1 journey, including his famous late-braking overtakes and charismatic personality, the possibility of him racing alongside Hamilton in equal machinery remains one of the sport’s great unanswered questions.
