F1 news: Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull return discussed as new project….readmore 

Helmut Marko’s recent comments have cast a shadow over Daniel Ricciardo’s hopes of a return to Red Bull, with the team’s advisor offering a disappointing assessment of the Australian driver’s future with the team. The issue was brought to the fore as new details about Ricciardo’s potential involvement with Red Bull were revealed in the latest season of Netflix’s Drive to Survive.
Marko, a key figure in Red Bull’s motorsport operations, has been known for his frank and often blunt opinions regarding the team’s driver lineup. In a recent interview, he made it clear that Ricciardo’s return to the Red Bull Racing team would not be on the cards for the immediate future, especially considering the current success of Max Verstappen and the team’s commitment to developing its lineup around the Dutch driver. Ricciardo, once a key member of the team, had left Red Bull in 2018 to join Renault, before moving to McLaren and eventually finding himself on a more limited role as a reserve driver with Red Bull in recent years.
Despite his beloved status among fans and his undeniable talent, Ricciardo’s path back to a full-time race seat appears increasingly unlikely. Marko emphasized that Ricciardo’s current focus, as seen in Drive to Survive, is less about returning to a front-running seat at Red Bull and more about his role in helping with the development of the team’s car. Marko stressed that Ricciardo’s talents could be better utilized in this capacity rather than fighting for a race seat, suggesting that Ricciardo’s role as a reserve driver could continue for the foreseeable future.
This is a sharp contrast to what many fans, as well as Ricciardo himself, may have hoped for—returning to the competitive environment of a top-tier team. However, Red Bull’s current dominance in Formula 1, led by Verstappen’s exceptional performances, leaves little room for any changes in their lineup, especially for a driver who has not been racing full-time in recent years.
As Ricciardo continues to support the team in a behind-the-scenes role, his future in the sport seems to be shifting away from race seat aspirations. The situation is a reminder of the harsh realities of Formula 1, where team dynamics and driver developments are often shaped by factors beyond a driver’s ability or popularity. For now, it seems Ricciardo will remain as a key figure within Red Bull, but not in the role he once envisioned.