Daniel Ricciardo has been backed to make a return to the Formula 1 grid in 2024 if he rebuilds to his former mindset, believes ex-F1 driver David Coulthard.
However, if he stays in his current frame of mind, Coulthard believes that the 33-year-old’s grand prix career is over.
Ricciardo has returned to Red Bull in a third driver role for the 2023 campaign following two difficult years at the McLaren organisation.
The Australian driver is hopeful of a return in 2024 after accepting that he needs time away from the grid after his challenging period.
“Daniel, not being where we knew he could be – he just didn’t look like Daniel of old so this is about him trying to rebuild,” Coulthard told BBC Sport.
“He has a great legacy with Red Bull and he left to go off and try and make it big elsewhere, that didn’t work so he has come back to the family.
“If he can get his mind back to what is was when he was having success, then Daniel has to have an opportunity to come back. If this opportunity doesn’t manifest itself then that’s probably his grand prix career wrapped up.”
Coulthard also believes that Sergio Perez, who currently occupies a seat at the team alongside Max Verstappen, is in danger of losing out to Ricciardo next year.
The Scotsman says that Perez must “defend his territory” and prove his worth to the team during the upcoming campaign.
“Having been in a similar situation to Sergio where I was up against Mika [Hakkinen] and Kimi [Raikkonen], you just have to leave no stone unturned,” Coulthard said.
“You do physical training but the only way he can improve his qualifying speed is in the car or in the simulator.
“In nine years at McLaren, I did every test and never missed a race, even when I felt terrible, even when I felt like I was going to be sick after testing, because I knew the minute I let the test driver get in the car it became an opportunity to show how good he was.
“If I don’t let him get in the car he can talk all day long. You have to defend your territory.”
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