Exclusive: Ricciardo would love to return to Red Bull: 'That would be a fairy tale'

By the end of 2022, the last chapter in Daniel Ricciardo's Formula1 career looked like it was written. Even though he deliveredMcLaren's first win since Brazil 2012 in the 2021 Italian GrandPrix, his follow-up season was mediocre and marred withunderperforming results. After getting picked up by his old teamRed Bull, an opportunity presented itself when Nyck de Vries alsofailed to deliver on his promise. The 2020/21 Formula E WorldChampion struggled to get to grips in the tricky AT04, and by themidway point of the season he was ousted by the team and Ricciardowas back on the grid. However, the comeback was halted after justtwo weekends with a broken hand sustained in a Dutch GP practicecrash, sidelining Ricciardo for five races until a return in theUnited States, although he showed his class in Mexico. Fourth inqualifying and seventh in the race, it was a fine performance, withRicciardo making it no secret that his eyes are on Sergio Perez'sseat at Red Bull for 2025, but states in an exclusive interviewwith RacingNews365 that he is also in his place at AlphaTauri. "Iknew with everything that has happened in the last 12 months that Ihad to take a step back to take two steps forward," Ricciardo says."I don't mean that in a negative way to AlphaTauri. I eventuallyhad to reset ultimately and I think being here [in this team] I'menjoying a lot more than I thought I would. "Even for myself, justbuilding myself back up and building my confidence and I'm on ateam where I get that. They have big plans for next year, becausewe are moving away from being a junior team and want to compete atthe front of the midfield." Ricciardo impressed with young drivers"We are also getting a little more support from Red Bull, theenergy is going in the right place and then we'll see," Ricciardorefers to the increased cooperation between Red Bull andAlphaTauri. "Obviously my goal is to return to Red Bull one day,that's the fairy tale and I would love to finish my career there.But I also try not to get caught up in that. "That's why I call ita fairy tale, because it's not a reality or a certainty until itactually happens. I want to perform as well as I can with this teamand fourth place in Mexico [qualifying] makes me so happy." WhenRicciardo made his switch to Renault, it was done as Team Enstonehad ambitions to get back to the glory years between 2005 and 2006with Fernando Alonso. It was clear the Australian did not want topotentially waste his peak performance years playing second fiddleto Max Verstappen, but after his time spent on the sidelines thishas changed his approach. "It would be really great if I can driveagain in a car that can win, but otherwise I just want to return toa place where I feel I can be at my best. That will make me happy,"says Ricciardo, who touches on the talent coming through the ranks,and how the level in F1 has changed a lot since he made his debuton the grid with backmarkers HRT at the 2011 British Grand Prix."The young drivers coming through are extremely talented. I don'tthink there is going to be any young driver that isn't fast. Thespeed and technical feedback, the level has improved compared toten years ago. "Drivers like Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, whowon a Sprint race in his first season, pretty crazy results. Thelevel now in F1 is always pretty high, but you really feel how highit is and if you're not at a level of confidence in the car I thinkyou can quickly get separated from your teammate." The textcontinues below the image. "Seems like the talent is gettingyounger and younger." Ricciardo experienced that himself atMcLaren, where Norris was consistently faster: "Lando startedgetting better and better and it looked like I was getting worseand worse. But of course Lando proved he is a very good driver."It's interesting when you look at rookies because like many sportsnow, it seems like the talent is getting younger and younger. Atthe same time, you have older guys like Fernando Alonso and LewisHamilton showing that you can still do it if you really want to.What is cool." Ricciardo also learned a valuable lesson from thesidelines when dealing with pressure when things do not necessarilystart go your way on track. "There is so much involved in thissport, because you are always compared to your teammate. If yourteammate consistently does consistently a good job, all eyes are onyou. Then there is pressure on you, and maybe on your engineer, andthings can get out of hand quickly," he explains. "Now I know whatto watch out for when I join a new team, a new engineer and a newenvironment. If I see that something is going left when it shouldbe going right, I am aware of that. Then I think, 'okay, let's takea breath, step back and go back to basics,'."