F1 2022, Daniel Ricciardo, analysis, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo, Sauber, Haas, Williams, AlphaTauri, sabbatical, reserve driver

Daniel Ricciardo will not drive for McLaren in 2022. He was replaced by Oscar Piastri at Woking. Alpine did not have an available seat. Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri did. Williams and Haas were the only other options. Ricriado is considering a sabbatical. He believes a year away will rejuvenate him. The Australian has been in Formula 1 for 11 years. His last team was McLaren. They sold him to McLaren for 2020. Pierre Gasly will drive next season. Sauber, Haas and Alfom Romeo are the other teams with an open seat, but they are not competitive.

Daniel Ricciardo is on a one-year sabbatical. He is considering Mercedes, Alfa Romeo, Sauber, Haas, Williams and AlphaTauri as possible options.

Mercedes is the most likely destination for Ricciardo for 2023. He could replace Lewis Hamilton or George Russell if either of them quit. Hamilton and Toto Wolff have said that he is likely to extend his stay at Mercedes. Riccioard is considering a sabbatical-reserve plan. The potential pay-off is massive but the risks are greater.

Zhou Guanyu is out of contract at the end of 2023. Alfa Romeo will end its sponsorship of F1's only Swiss team. The team will be known as either Sauber or Audi pending the completion of a sale deal to the German auto giant. Ricciardo is a factory driver for the famous four rings in his final contracted year. There is no guarantee the seat would be open to Riccio.

Haas is interested in signing Daniel Ricciardo for the 2024 season. Kevin Magnussen is out of contract and his replacement is unknown. Riccidor is skipping 2023 and will take a year off. He would be the second American driver in Formula 1. The team has been inconsistent this season but has shown promise. It is one of the most open and honest teams in the paddock. Nico Hulkenberg could replace Mick Schumacher next year. There is a possibility that he could be given the seat for an extra season, which would make it a good fit for Ricicardo.

Yuki Tsunoda and Nyck de Vries are out of contract. AlphaTauri wants to blood drivers in Formula 1 for possible promotion. Nycks deVries has been hired for 2023 despite having never been in the Red Bull program.

Ricciardo is out of contract at the end of 2023. He turned down the Williams contract this year. The options for him are almost identical with the exception of Mercedes. Ricciard's priority is to find a way back onto the podium. He needs to be on the grid again. His last season on McLaren was difficult. It's possible he will be back in the sport in 2024.