Red Bull's Horner on Ricciardo's F1 comeback hopes

Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing's team principal, has opened up about Daniel Ricciardo's truncated Formula 1 comeback, expressing a mix of regret and admiration for the Australian driver's valiant efforts to reclaim his former glory.

A promising return cut short

Ricciardo's journey back to the pinnacle of motorsport seemed poised for a storybook ending when he secured a reserve driver role with Red Bull for 2023.

This opportunity eventually blossomed into a race seat at AlphaTauri, replacing the struggling Nyck de Vries.

However, the fairytale comeback has now been cut short, with Ricciardo losing his seat for the 2024 season.

Horner, speaking candidly on the F1 Nation podcast, revealed his hopes for Ricciardo's return:

"Yeah, I would have loved to see him use it as a leap, as a springboard to get back to where he was to have completed the story. But it wasn't to be, you know."

Performance gaps and missed opportunities

Despite the initial excitement surrounding Ricciardo's return, his performances at AlphaTauri failed to decisively outshine those of teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

This lack of clear superiority, coupled with Sergio Perez's continued presence at Red Bull despite his own struggles, ultimately sealed Ricciardo's fate.

Horner acknowledged the reality of the situation, stating,

"Daniel's honest about that, and he knows in his heart he gave it his best shot, and he's had a great career."

A career beyond the cockpit

While Ricciardo's on-track future remains uncertain, Horner was quick to highlight the Australian's natural charisma and entertainment value.

"He's so good in front of the camera. He's a natural entertainer and showman,"

Horner remarked, hinting at potential media opportunities for Ricciardo in the future.

The Red Bull chief even speculated on Ricciardo's post-racing career, suggesting,

"He will be, for sure, in front of the camera at some point, and I'm sure there'll be a documentary or something that will be fascinating."

Ricciardo's lasting impact

Despite the disappointment of his curtailed comeback, Ricciardo's influence on the sport and his teammates remains undeniable.

Horner particularly noted the positive effect Ricciardo had on a young Max Verstappen during their time as teammates at Red Bull.

"I think actually, Max learned a huge amount from him because, when Max came into the team, Max was very much the young pup, and I think he was a great influence on Max in learning not to take life too seriously and enjoy the moment,"

Horner reflected.