Daniel Ricciardo and Nicholas Latifi have both said they’re already considering driving options for 2024, having lost their Formula 1 seats following poor 2022 seasons.
Ricciardo was set to race for McLaren for another season having signed a three-year contract with the team, but was released early from that for 2021 F2 champion Oscar Piastri.
Ricciardo is likely to take a sabbatical but Latifi‘s plans are still up in the air given he’s endured a torrid third season in F1 and has now been linked with an IndyCar seat.
“It’s all rumours, I’ve not decided anything yet for my future,” Latifi told the press ahead of the 2022 Mexican Grand Prix.
“Of course I’ve been exploring options and Indycar is a series I’m considering for sure but I’ve not decided on anything yet.”
It was reported that Latifi had deal lined up with Chip Gnassi to stay in America and link up with another former F1 driver in Marcus Ericsson.
However, Latifi rubbished these claims and said he wouldn’t agree a 2023 contract unless it was the right drive for the him.
“I think it’s about the right opportunity in let’s say the right series,” Latifi added. “At this point in time I can’t say exactly what the right series is because I haven’t made up my mind yet and it’s definitely still on the table.”
“But at the same time if there’s not an option on the table that I feel is the right one for next year then I’m not necessarily ruling out taking a year to then put something better together for the following one.”
Ricciardo reacts to latest blow
Ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton said he wants to stay with Mercedes beyond his current deal to the end of 2023.
After Alpine and Williams rumours regarding Ricciardo have come to nothing, one future mooted for the Australian was as a reserve driver for Mercedes before a return to a senior seat in 2024 if Hamilton left the team.
Though Hamilton‘s latest announcement makes that unlikely, Ricciardo said he wasn’t banking on that plan.
“I think my future will be, let’s say I don’t think it’s relative to what others do,” Ricciardo said.
“I think opportunities will arise when they do but I’m not banking on anyone doing something so I can find my way.
“I want to take the time necessary, keep a little bit of distance to the sport, rebuild myself but then if something makes sense in 2024, come back with a vengeance, have some fun and hopefully race at the front.”
The pair are close, at least on the scale of Hamilton‘s usually distant relationships with most of the F1 grid, after they competed for race wins in Ricciardo‘s Red Bull days.
Ricciardo added: “I want him to stay in the sport, he’s one of the greatest to ever do it and I think competing with him, going wheel-to-wheel with him is fun, it’s awesome.
“It’s normally at the pointy end so I certainly wish to do that more in the future and that’s where it currently lies.”
