F1 fans in frenzy over return of Daniel Ricciardo in photo with Oscar Piastri
A photo of Daniel Ricciardo catching up with Oscar Piastri and Mercedes driver George Russell has offered a rare glimpse into 'retired' life for the former Aussie F1 star. Russell is coming off the back of a brilliant Canadian GP with the British star earning his first win of the F1 season, while Piastri maintained his lead in the drivers' championship having finished fourth.
Both drivers have enjoyed a little time off between races with the Austrian GP this weekend. And in that time, Piastri and Russell joined 'retired' F1 driver Ricciardo and Aussie Olympian Scotty James for some Padel in Monaco.
Russell posted the catch-up between friends on social media and it caused a wave of excitement with Ricciardo remaining out of the spotlight since his retirement. Fans were thrilled to see the Aussie back around the F1 driving contingent with plenty calling for Ricciardo, an eight-time F1 race winner, to make a comeback.
However, it appears Ricciardo is firmly set on different ventures in retirement and has no plans to make a return. This is despite fans floating the idea he could fill in for Max Verstappen if the Red Bull driver cops a looming suspension.
🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/zHUXojAzpo
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) June 22, 2025
Red Bull boss Christian Horner could be facing a dilemma, with Verstappen facing a suspension if he picks up any more penalty points this year. The current world champion has 11 penalty points over a rolling 12-month period, and if he reaches 12 he'll cop an automatic race ban.
Crucially, the two penalty points he received at the Austrian Grand Prix last year will expire at the end of June, which will drop his tally down to nine ahead of the British GP in July. Ricciardo has been floated as a potential back-up driver if such a disaster occurred, although it remains unlikely.
Isack Hadjar has impressed for Red Bull's junior team 'Racing Bulls' this season, and would seemingly be the first cab off the rank to replace Verstappen. New Zealander Liam Lawson is also in the team stable with Racing Bulls, but had a disastrous two-race stint with Red Bull at the start of the season.
Regardless, fans were left thrilled to see Ricciardo mixing it again with the F1 drivers as he enjoys life away from the track. Former F1 fans and even viewers of the Netflix show 'Drive to Survive' have not seen much of Ricciardo after stepping away from racing. The photo of Ricciardo smiling, and sporting a new beard, certainly delighted his supporters.
Danny looks like he's enjoying retirement
— Sports Talk Noah (@sportstalknoah) June 22, 2025
DANIEL RICCIARDO SIGNS OF LIFE
— cherry @ ax (@cherrypugpie) June 22, 2025
daniel ricciardo is NOT getting back in an F1 car. people need to stop coping
— Paul VII (@pauldickson1212) June 23, 2025
While it is only Piastri's second year in F1, the 24-year-old is on the verge of breaking Ricciardo's record of grand prix wins. Ricciardo left the F1 field after the Singapore GP last year. Since his exit, Piastri has catapulted himself into championship contention and is proving to be McLaren's best chances of winning this year.
PIastri has already won five races this year, to go along with his two from last 2024. And the Aussie only needs one more win to equal Ricciardo's record. Piastri has the opportunity to achieve this feat on the weekend where he will enter the Austrian GP as one of the favourites.
If Piastri is to take the world championship from four-time winner Verstappen in 2025, he will certainly need to win a string of races. Piastri is currently leading the championship by 22 points from second-placed Lando Norris, and McLaren will continue to let them race freely for the F1 title. Team principal Andrea Stella said they would seek to "preserve our parity and equality in terms of how we go racing at McLaren between our two drivers."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Joe Schmidt rejects Lions demands to release Australia stars for tour games
The Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has hit back at the British and Irish Lions management, insisting Australia are adhering to the tour agreement regarding the release of international players for pre-Test games and that his front-line home players were only unavailable because they were preparing to face Fiji on Sunday week. The issue has flared up again this week after the Lions chief executive, Ben Calveley, said he expected Schmidt to release Wallaby players back to their Super Rugby franchises for their respective games against the touring team. Some fringe Wallabies are due to feature for Western Force this Saturday but it is set to be a different story for the subsequent games against the Reds, the Waratahs and the Brumbies. Advertisement Related: Beale picks out Lions' 'danger man' Russell as biggest threat to Australia Australia have a warm-up Test against Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday week which effectively clashes with all three of those Lions fixtures, due to be played inside eight days starting with the Reds game in Brisbane next Wednesday evening. With limited time in which to prepare for the best-of-three Test series, the Lions are keen to face the best-available opposition wherever possible and Calveley has also stressed the need to guarantee value for money for matchday fans. Schmidt, however, rejects the idea that the Wallabies are reneging on a strict contractual obligation. 'I'm not sure whether [coach] Andy [Farrell] was part of that discussion or whether it was just coming from the CEO but I've read the tours agreement and it's having the best intention to have the highest quality players available and playing,' Schmidt told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'It's not as specific as saying every Wallaby from a state or a club has to be available to play every game that the Lions come through on. And we play Fiji on a Sunday and the Waratahs play on a Saturday night. So it's not like you can play Saturday and Sunday against a team like the Lions. It would be counterproductive.' Advertisement Schmidt also sought to draw a comparison with the Lions, pointing out Farrell's first choice squad members are not required to play in every game. 'There's some serious plate spinning at the moment, trying to get ready,' he stressed. 'The ambition is there'll be some going back to the Reds, and some going back to the Waratahs. But in reality, the Lions have got their squad. Are they going to play their best team every week? That's unlikely. So are we going to play all the same players every week?' The upshot is that lower-profile or recently injured Wallabies such as Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Josh Flook, Josh Canham, Seru Uru and Angus Blyth are all in line to feature against the Lions but Australia's frontline stars will be wrapped in cotton wool. 'Just about every player who will play against the Lions was in our wider squad,' insisted Schmidt. '[And] depending on how we get through these few days of training, there may be a couple of the Reds who go back from our squad again. So I think we're working really hard to enter into the tours agreement in the most positive way we can.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘On track': Positive pics for Kerr return
Sam Kerr won't be playing for the Matildas over the next two weeks but has linked up with her teammates in Perth as an injury lay-off that has hit 18 months edges closer to an end. Kerr dropped social media pics of her running during a trip to Mallorca in Spain and followed that up with another pic at the Sam Kerr Football Centre in Perth where her national teammates are preparing for games against Slovenia and Panama. The 31-year-old hasn't played since injuring her ACL in a training camp with club side Chelsea in January 2024. New Matildas coach Joe Montemurro recently revealed that the Matildas captain needed a second round of surgery, which stretched her recovery way beyond the normal period. But while she is doing most of her rehabilitation with Chelsea, Kerr has been allowed to link up with the Matildas who will play their first game under the new coach on Thursday night. She's set to take part in some individual sessions and do some training with her teammates as part of a plan being co-ordinated in collaboration with Chelsea. When Kerr wasn't named in Montemurro's 33-player squad for the four games in Western Australia, the new coach said he'd been talking to his skipper and things were moving in a 'positive way'. 'We're monitoring that on a day-to-day, week-to-week scenario. She's on track and we're working closely with Chelsea to make sure she's ready for the season going in from there,' he said. 'Everything's pointing in a positive way and going in the direction we feel that's right.' Recently married Matildas star Ellie Carpenter said it was exciting times for the team with a new coach leading into next year's Asian Cup, which is being held in Australia. 'You could tell by today's first session that everyone's fresh, everyone's excited,' she said in Perth. 'Everyone wants to put their best foot forward. That creates a challenging environment, very competitive environment and I think that's what we need.' 'I think Joe's very experienced internationally, he's coached at some big clubs, he knows what it takes to be the best footballers, to train them, to also beat top teams. 'And I think bringing his style here to the national team, keeping the ball, playing possession-based football is really going to bring the best out of our team, and it's what we need leading into the Asian Cup.' The Matildas will open their Asian Cup campaign in Perth on March 1 next year.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bayer Leverkusen monitoring Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche
Bayern Leverkusen have held talks regarding the signing of AS Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche this summer (h/t Florian Plettenberg). The Ligue 1 giants are open to selling the French talent for a suitable offer amid growing interest in the player. Advertisement With a contract running until June 2028, Monaco value Akliouche at around €60 million. Leverkusen have identified Akliouche as their dream target to bolster the attack, but the deal is still in its infancy. Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona have also been credited as the suitors for the 23-year-old. A standout youth product of Monaco, Akliouche has grown by leaps and bounds as one of the top young talents in the French top flight. He had a productive 2024/25 campaign, registering seven goals and 12 assists in all competitions. Akliouche also bagged a silver medal with France in the Paris Olympics last year. Advertisement The French-Algerian youngster ranks among the prominent wingers in Europe, excelling in ball progression, dribbling and playmaking. Leverkusen are looking to strengthen their squad with quality signings on all fronts, as they aim to compete for more trophies under new manager Erik ten Hag. They will have significant spending power, having sold Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool for around €170 million. Leverkusen can be a great destination for Akliouche to reach new heights in his career. He would bring more dynamism to their attack. Die Werkself have identified PSV Eindhoven attacking midfielder Malik Tillman as a potential replacement for Wirtz. The German giants have secured a deal worth £35m for the signing of Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah.
