For some time Daniel Ricciardo was an attractive driver for Ferrari, but the roads between Maranello and the Australian have split very clearly after his years with the Red Bull team. The smiling driver surprised everyone in mid-2018 by deciding to abandon the team that had protected him up to that moment, and which had given him great satisfaction, embracing the Renault cause. At that time the market was blocked and there was no chance of aspiring to a seat in the top teams: he chose to invest in the growth of Renault.
In May 2020, after a difficult season in yellow, here is the second sensational turn: Ricciardo in McLaren, with a Mercedes engine behind him for the 2021 Formula 1 season. The move came simultaneously and consequently to another decision, namely that of Ferrari to choose Carlos Sainz as the replacement of Sebastian Vettel. Today the Maranello duo, formed by the Spaniard and Charles Leclerc, appears solid and interesting: but according to Romain Grosjean it could have gone differently: “I would have taken Daniel Ricciardo if I had been in Ferrari. The choice to sign Carlos surprised me, even if it must be said that he did very well at McLaren. It still remains a sensible line-up, considering Charles is the future”- The Indycar driver told Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera.
The Frenchman went no further in explaining the choice he would have made, had he been in the shoes of a Ferrari manager. The dream of driving for Ferrari remained the same for him too, after having hoped, especially when Haas was able to score some good results, to receive a call from Maranello and have the opportunity of driving for Ferrari. The indirect challenge between Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz, Sebastian Vettel and Sergio Perez, who have completed a remarkable waltz around ahead of 2021, will be of great interest for the season which will begin this week in Bahrain.
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