Ricciardo confident for 2023 chances amid Red Bull links

Daniel Ricciardo hopes "his good looks" will still be seen in the Formula 1 paddock in 2023 as he prepares for what could be his last F1 race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Following poor performances at McLaren, the team elected to pay up the final year of his contract to make room for Oscar Piastri, who will partner Lando Norris next season.

With Ricciardo not willing to drop down the grid to join teams such as Haas or AlphaTauri - and with no interest in moving to another series - a reserve driver role has emerged as his best option.

Talks with Mercedes have cooled, with the Australian linked with a return to Red Bull in the reserve role, shadowing former teammate Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez at the Milton Keynes squad.

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Ricciardo hopes to be around

"Nothing's confirmed yet, but progress is being made," he told media including TheFOXposts.Com.

"Hopefully you can see my good looks again next year, to some degree!

"I'm not mentally treating it like it's going to be my last race, but it could be.

"I know that nothing is guaranteed in the future, so I'm just going to go out and enjoy it.

"I'm not going to get too emotional about it being the thought of the last one, but I do want to enjoy it and just take it for what it is.

"I've got a grid penalty. I normally go better when I have penalties so I actually asked for a five-place penalty, but three will do!"

Ricciardo has the penalty for clipping Kevin Magnussen on the opening lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix last weekend, sending the Haas spinning and himself into the wall after contact with his McLaren.

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