Australia’s last world champ Alan Jones says Daniel Ricciardo will never race in Formula One again

Aussie Formula One legend Alan Jones has made the sensational name that Daniel Ricciardo has been too targeted on outdoors pursuits and can by no means race at F1 degree once more.

The 33-year-old was on the centre of a messy divorce with McLaren final season that noticed his spot taken by Australian wunderkind Oscar Piastri.

He’s at present a reserve driver at Crimson Bull behind world champion Max Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez with a view of returning to the grid fulltime in 2024, nevertheless Jones thinks that ship has sailed.

Jones was the final Australian to win a Method One driver’s title with Williams in 1980 and he informed fellow world champion Damon Hill that he believed Ricciardo wouldn’t get a drive in 2023 and would wrestle to discover a new place past that. 

‘I do not assume he’ll get a drive at Crimson Bull except one thing occurs to the 2 present drivers, I can not see him doing a Grand Prix,’ Jones mentioned.

World champion Max Verstappen (left) and Sergio Perez are forward of Ricciardo within the pecking order at Crimson Bull – and Alan Jones says solely harm can get the Aussie into considered one of their automobiles

Jones was the final Australian to win the Method One championship, taking out the title with Williams in 1980 – and he has 

‘I doubt [he will be on the grid in 2024]. On the finish of the day there’s in all probability no purpose why Crimson Bull will not re-sign Perez and clearly Verstappen [is locked in] and I can not see anyone at Ferrari resigning or going away, so I simply cannot see the place he can go.

‘Clearly everyone likes to exit on a excessive observe and it is simply unlucky that for no matter purpose, and I do not even assume he is aware of himself, why his efficiency dropped off.

‘As I mentioned earlier than, I simply cannot see him getting again into Method One.

‘Actually, in my very own opinion, I believe he concentrated and spent a bit an excessive amount of time for his actions out of the cockpit quite than in it. That is my opinion.’

Jones believes that younger Aussie Oscar Piastri can change into the following large factor in Australian racing and declare a Method One championship

Whereas Jones believes the horse has bolted for Ricciardo, he beforehand mentioned that fellow Aussie Piastri has what it takes to change into an F1 champion.

‘I believe he can go on to be world champion,’  Jones mentioned.

 ‘Each once in a while somebody comes alongside that has acquired an infinite quantity of expertise and I reckon he’s a kind of types of individuals.’

‘Every part he has ever put his bum in, he has received and there are usually not too many individuals that may say that,’ he mentioned. 

 ‘He has actually acquired the flexibility to go on and be a world champion.’

Ricciardo celebrates a race victory in 2018 with a shoey whereas Lewis Hamilton watches on and movies the Aussie

Damon Hill was the 1996 Method One champion and he believes Ricciardo can return if he finds his mojo

Hill was not as sure that Ricciardo is completed at F1 degree, saying he simply wanted to search out his mojo.

‘I might say it is 50-50 if he’ll ever get again in an F1 automobile in the meanwhile,’ Hill mentioned.

‘He’s a very talked-about man, he’s clearly somebody that has introduced a whole lot of color and a whole lot of amusement, his by no means say die angle has been spectacular and his race wins as properly, his driving.

‘However one thing went lacking, we aren’t positive the place. It simply disappeared and it’s as mystifying to me, in all probability as it’s to him.’

‘It’s extremely troublesome when you could have been on the sharp finish to race in Method One and be motivated if you’re in a much less aggressive automobile.

‘I believe that is the massive fear, for those who drive a much less aggressive automobile, you lose your mojo.

‘That is the very last thing he must do proper now’s seem like unmotivated.’