Ricciardo Weighs Le Mans Comeback, a Sign of Red Bull Reunion with Verstappen?
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- Daniel Ricciardo membuka peluang kembali ke lintasan balap, tetapi hanya untuk ajang sekali jalan seperti Le Mans, bukan kejuaraan penuh.
- Mantan pembalap Red Bull itu mengaku telah berdamai dengan akhir karier F1-nya, meski masih menyisakan keraguan soal motivasi intrinsik.
- Duet dengan Max Verstappen dan Sebastian Vettel di Le Mans menjadi skenario yang menarik perhatian publik dan berpotensi mengubah lanskap balap ketahanan.
Two years after his last Formula 1 race, Daniel Ricciardo is opening the door to racing again. Not for a full championship, though, but for a one-off endurance event such as the Le Mans 24 Hours. The Australian driver says he has reached a point of acceptance over the end of his F1 career, but still leaves room to close it out in a way that suits him better.
In an interview on the Beyond The Grid podcast, Ricciardo revealed that a year ago he had even sworn he would never put on a racing helmet again. Now his view has softened. He realizes that finishing a career with a smile and a sense of satisfaction is something worth striving for. "Maybe that is the final chapter I need," he said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.
Ricciardo stressed that he is not interested in doing a full season of any championship. An endurance format like Le Mans appeals to him more because it allows him to share a car with other drivers, something he rarely experienced in F1. "F1 is selfish, in the way it needs to be. At Le Mans, you have a real teammate, you share data, and you help each other. That would be fun," he said.
Even so, Ricciardo does not want to rush his decision. He stressed the importance of pure motivation, not ego or a desire to give fans a happy ending. "I don't want to do it just to please other people. There has to be a drive from within myself," he said. He also admitted that his desire to compete had dimmed somewhat in his final years in F1.
If he does return, Ricciardo knows his competitive instinct will kick in as soon as the helmet goes on. He cannot deny that he would try to win, not merely take part. "That is probably the thing I need to understand: is my heart really in it?" he said, reflecting.
"I won't lie, there is a part of me that wants to do it for everyone who cares and supports me, and also for those who hate how my career ended. But it still has to be for me."
— Daniel Ricciardo
When asked which driver he would like to share a car with, Ricciardo immediately named Max Verstappen. He recalled their time together at Red Bull in 2018 and mused about whether they could reunite at the end of their careers. "Maybe that is a way to give people what they want," he said with a laugh. Verstappen himself has expressed interest in Le Mans in the future.
Interviewer Tom Clarkson then raised the name Sebastian Vettel, who in 2024 tested a Porsche Hypercar but has never raced at Le Mans. Ricciardo reacted with enthusiasm. "It can't be denied that Seb is still very quick and would be quick in any car. I really like Seb, so that could be an interesting Red Bull reunion," he said.
The news has certainly shaken the endurance racing paddock. The Le Mans 24 Hours is one of the most prestigious events in the world, and the presence of drivers of the caliber of Ricciardo, Verstappen, and Vettel would be a magnet in itself. For a team like Porsche, which has tested Vettel, or any other interested team, this opportunity could be a major investment in popularity and performance.
For Ricciardo, though, the final decision still rests on clarity of heart. Is he ready to reopen a competitive box that has long been shut? Or is this just a passing temptation? What is clear is that the racing public is now waiting for his answer, and Le Mans could be an elegant final stage for a driver who has brought plenty of color to F1.
