The McLaren driver enjoyed a rare positive outing in 2022 at the F1 Mexico City Grand Priඣx, finishing in P7, but has just two races remaining with his future unclear.

Ricciardo’s contract with McLaren will be terminated a year early and he won’t be in the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 2023 driver line-up, but♛ has been linked to a reser꧃ve driver role at Mercedes.

“Yeah, it would be interesting,” Russell said to Sky ꩵabout Ricciardo joining.&💎nbsp;

“I’d like to see that. We have to see what he wants to do in the futureಞ.”

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had ♛been spotted wearing Ri🔯cciardo’s merchandise but denied that it hinting towards a link-up.

𒀰“I am promoting his merch! Honestly I just like it,” Wolff said. “They took a photo o𒅌f me and posted it online.”

Ricciardo teased: “🌃I gave George a sweater. Toto messaged s💝aying he really liked it so I gave him one too!”

Vacant seats with Alpine, Haa♓s and Williams have passed without Ricciardo signing up.

He sai💦d about his limited options: “If thereღ was a lot, I’d probably be in a race seat.

“But there is enough to keep me interested.

“I want to stay active to some♓ degree. I’m aware 🎐that doing nothing for a year is not good.”

Ricciard♉o claimed “I honestly don’t” know which team he will join in 2023 but “the plan” was to remain in F1, albeit not in a race seat.

“I am൩ talking to teams,” he said. “I still want to keep a foot in the door for 2024.

“Seeing the lights go out for race on🐭e, I will have an it🍸ch!”

Ricciardo sits 12th in the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 standings after being comprehensively outperformed by teammate 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lando Norris all year. He will be replaced by rookie 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Oscar Piastri next season.

“The last two years have been quite hard,” he admitted. “You put a lot in, and when it doesn’t come back, it can🃏 get you down.

“I know the vꦫalue of a summer break. Stepping away can give you a different perspective.

“The season is pretty relentless, you ꦅdon’t get a chance to rebuild.

“I trಞuly believe it will be a blessing in d🐼isguise.

“I can confidently say that 🧸I won’t be on the 🀅grid behind a wheel.

“But I still want to be i☂n the sport, working with a team. Still with the ambition to be back on the grid in 2024.

𝐆“🍸That’s where my head is at. Time away from a race seat will do me good.

“I’m not done. But it will look different.”