F1 fans in frenzy over return of Daniel Ricciardo in photo with Oscar Piastri and George Russell

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.

A photo of Daniel Ricciardo catching up with Oscar Piastri and Mercedes driver George Russell has prompted calls for the Aussie to return to the paddock. (Images: @GeorgeRussel63/Getty Images)

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.

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.

Daniel Ricciardo (pictured) finished up in F1 last year.

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.

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.

Oscar Piastri (pictured right) is expected to eclipse Daniel Ricciardo's (pictured left) numbers of wins in the F1.

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."

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/f1-fans-in-frenzy-over-return-of-daniel-ricciardo-in-photo-with-oscar-piastri-and-george-russell-012017830.html

Post Related