Toto Wolff confirms Mercedes DID try out to sign Daniel Ricciardo for 2023 as team manager concedes that the lure of ‘coming home’ to Red Bull observed him overlook out on capturing the Australian
Toto Wolff has discovered that Mercedes have been in the race to signal Daniel Ricciardo for 2023, but the lure of ‘coming home’ to Red Bull noticed the Silver Arrows pass up out on the Australian.
Sportsmail reported previously this 12 months that Mercedes had earmarked Ricciardo as a achievable successor to Lewis Hamilton after the Australian’s agreement with McLaren was torn up a yr early amid a very poor 2022 marketing campaign.
However, Red Bull received the race to signal the 33-year-previous and announced him as their ‘third driver’ for the 2023 season late previous thirty day period.
Toto Wolff has admitted that Mercedes experimented with to indicator Daniel Ricciardo for the 2023 time
‘Yeah, there ended up conversations,’ Wolff verified via GP Enthusiasts. ‘He is a tremendous dude. There is nothing at all to say. It truly is a shame that he is not in a cockpit for the reason that Daniel Ricciardo requirements to be in a race auto.
‘But it failed to take place. No one understands why the a long time in McLaren didn’t perform out like all the preceding many years did. I bear in mind Daniel from the junior collection and he was usually there.’
Ricciardo stamped himself as a star in the making all through his time in the junior ranks with Red Bull, and Wolff has conceded that the Australian’s fond memories at Pink Bull performed from them.
‘Basically, we just desired time to determine out what we required to do and Pink Bull was his household for a prolonged time,’ included Wolff.
‘He is familiar with the folks and he hopefully has a excellent deal there.’
Ricciardo was a male in desire just after his early exit from McLaren next a inadequate period
But Wolff claims Mercedes could not contend with Pink Bull’s give of ‘coming home’ up coming calendar year
Immediately after his return to Purple Bull was verified, Ricciardo reported: ‘The smile claims it all, I’m really energized to be coming again house to Oracle Red Bull Racing as their 3rd Driver in 2023.
‘I by now have so lots of fond reminiscences of my time listed here, but the welcome from Christian, Dr Marko and the entire team is some thing I am sincerely appreciative of.
‘For me personally, the skill to add to and be surrounded by the finest crew in F1 is massively pleasing, even though also supplying me some time to recharge and refocus.
‘I can’t hold out to be with the workforce and aid with simulator function, tests periods and commercial actions. Let us go!’