If Christian Horner were Alpine’s team principal instead of Red Bull, he’d be brave enough to take on Daniel Ricciardo, who had dropped out of McLaren. “There is definitely still a good driver in him.”
That Horner is so convinced of this is of course because he had Ricciardo under his wing from 2014 to 2018 at Red Bull. The Australian then went on to embark on the adventure with Renault – which is now Alpine – and then McLaren. However, the latter team has now decided to terminate its ongoing contract after this year. Ricciardo threatens to be left out in 2023.
Also read: Ricciardo not on Formula 1 grid in 2023? ‘I can live with it’
“That’s a shame,” Horner said in the Beyond the Gridpodcast. “Daniel is a great personality and a very, very good driver. He’s lost his way a bit, but it would be great if he stays in the sport.” Asked if Horner would go for Ricciardo as team principal of Alpine, which still has a seat available, he replied: “I would take him, yes.”
“They know him there, and in his last season with that team he performed well, took podiums for them.” Not only that: Horner certainly sees potential in Ricciardo. “He is someone who can rebuild you.” The last few years have not been good for his ex-pupil, Horner admits, but: “Look at some of the races he drove for us, the wins, podiums and overtakes. He still can.”
Reset
“It’s definitely still in him,” Horner repeats. “He only has a reset required.” While Horner thinks Ricciardo’s confidence has been hurt by his difficult McLaren years, ‘don’t just forget how to perform at a high level’. “I hope he gets another chance to be back on the grid next year.”
Also read: Horner no longer recognizes Ricciardo: ‘His self-confidence is gone’
