Daniel Ricciardo has expressed confidence that his new role at the Red Bull Formula 1 team will aid his push to return to the grid in 2024.
Ricciardo departed McLaren at the end of the 2022 campaign following a couple of difficult years with the Woking-based squad.
His duties at Red Bull for 2023 include marketing events, but also in the area of development, assisting the team in the simulator.
The Australian is targeting a return to a full-time drive for the 2024 campaign and believes that his Red Bull responsibilities will aid that.
“From a professional point of view, this year is really about being a team player at Red Bull,” he wrote on a LinkedIn column.
“I’m back in an environment and ultimately a family that I have a lot of good memories with and it feels really good to be back there.
“But it’s not about me this year, it’s about the wider team and trying to contribute and help them where I can.
“Jumping into the simulator, learning their car and helping shape the development are all things I’m focused on doing. In turn that will develop my abilities, my confidence and my enjoyment behind the wheel.
“It’s been a tough couple of years professionally, so there’s an element of that competitor in me wanting to remind people that I’m still here, still a professional and still contributing to success.”
Just where Ricciardo could fit into the 2024 grid remains unknown, with several teams already having their line-ups confirmed for next year.
Should he be back behind the wheel in 12 months’ time, Ricciardo says he is currently taking time to enjoy life away from the paddock.
“From a personal perspective, this year for me is really feeling like a bit of a luxury to have the opportunity to do things that I’ve always wanted to and not had the time.
“I don’t want the year to pass me by, because if I am racing again next year, I’ll wish I’d made the most of the free time whilst I had it.”
It would be nice to see Dan running in FP1 in the awesome RB machine in Melbourne.
Come on Christian, give Dan a go to show that he is still a viable racer.