Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer has confirmed the team held talks with Daniel Ricciardo about a possible Formula 1 seat in 2023, ahead of its signing of Pierre Gasly.
A deal with Alpine would have seen Ricciardo return to the team with which he raced in the 2019 and 2020 world championships, when the franchise operated under the guise of Renault.
The 33-year-old instead inked a deal as a reserve driver with Red Bull for 2023, after he was punted by McLaren with a year to run on his contract.
When Szafnauer was pressed on Ricciardo at Melbourne’s Albert Park on Friday, the team principal said: “We had discussions with Daniel and ended up with Pierre, when he became available”.
Szafnauer added that he “wouldn’t be surprised if (Ricciardo is) back racing in the future”.
Haas boss Guenther Steiner was also asked about Ricciardo in Melbourne.
“It’s a little bit early to speak about a driver change already for next year, so let’s see how we are doing with these drivers,” said Steiner, whose 2023 drivers are Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg.
“For sure, at some point, maybe I’ll speak with him, but I cannot promise anything, because if our two guys do a good job … I think (that’s) where I stand with it.”
Haas held discussions with Ricciardo about a 2023 seat late last year, when the Kannapolis-based team was looking for a replacement for the axed Mick Schumacher.
In a priceless moment in season five of Drive to Survive, Steiner vented to Magnussen about Ricciardo’s eyewatering asking price.
“We can’t afford him, Kevin,” Steiner said.
“He wants 10 f—ing million. Minimum!”
Steiner said on Friday that everybody would “want to speak with Daniel” regarding a contract for 2024.
“The year off, maybe he knows again what he wants to do, and he will be interesting for everybody in F1,” Steiner added.
“At the moment I want to find out … I’ve got a new driver this year (Hulkenberg), who has only (done) two races (for the team), so I need to give him a little bit of a chance.”
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