Daniel Ricciardo does “care” about returning to Formula 1 but only at a “top team”.
Following his departure from McLaren at the end of last year, the eight-time Grand Prix winner has been enjoying his first year off the grid since debuting midway through 2011.
However, Ricciardo admitted his “adrenaline was spiking” upon returning to the paddock at the Australian Grand Prix and revealed how the past few months have already indicated his desire to race again.
“The signs are pointing towards getting back on the grid,” he said via ESPN.
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“I feel like that’s where I’m tracking in my head and a few of the habits that I’m having or doing are pointing towards that.
“It’s only been a few months but I think some itches have been scratched, so to speak.
“I’ve actually weirdly found that the days that I’ve had no schedule are the days when I’ve actually done training, and I’ve done things like I would before.
“So I don’t know, being my own boss, writing my own schedule has actually brought out a lot of the things in me, when I thought I might just sit on the couch and watch movies all day and eat junk food, I’m just not. That’s not me.
“So even these things have made me realise how much I do care about F1.”
Ricciardo did have options to continue in F1 this year with Haas and Alpine confirming talks with the 33-year-old over a drive.
However, the ‘Honey Badger’ concedes there is still one key condition that has to be met for him to come back.
“I still am at a point where it’s not at any cost, it’s not just to be back on the grid,” Ricciardo stated.
“A lot of the reason for taking this year off was that I didn’t want to just jump back into a car, any car just to be one of the F1 drivers.
“I still don’t see myself starting from scratch and rebuilding a career from ground zero and going at it for another decade.
“I appreciate I might not have every opportunity under the sun, but I want to win. I want to be back with a top team and obviously a team where I have my confidence back and my mojo.
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“I think also that’s where maybe when I look back, that’s a weakness of mine, but in a way, it’s a strength as I feel better at the front of the grid. I feel like I perform in those situations with a bit more pressure and a bit more emphasis on a podium.
“So to go back and try to put myself in just any seat or something that’s fighting at best for a top-10 finish, I don’t think that’s going to bring the best out of me.
“So yeah, I see myself, at least in my head, wanting to go back on the grid, but there’s still some terms and conditions, so to speak.”
And for now, Ricciardo isn’t in too much of a rush to start actively looking for 2024 opportunities in F1.
“I’m happy to roll with it probably ’til the summer, or June, July and then see where I’m at, and then maybe sit down with my team and think what are we going to need to do now to realistically put me back on the grid.
“But I’m really happy with how I’m going about it for now. So I’m not going to do too much more.”