World champion Jenson Button says he doubts Daniel Ricciardo will return to Formula 1 in a competitive car after taking a year off.
Ricciardo will sit out 2023 after being dumped by McLaren in favour of rookie countryman Oscar Piastri.
The 33-year-old has been linked to reserve driver roles at both Mercedes and his former team Red Bull, having apparently rejected opportunities at teams such as Haas and Williams.
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“I guess he didn’t want to drop too far down the grid and work with a team that’s more towards the rear, because it’s difficult for a driver coming from a team that is almost winning races at times to suddenly know you’re fighting for points,” Button told Sky Sports.
“It is tough. But I still think it would have been a better move for him.
“Go into a team, work hard, show people what you can do, in a car that maybe suits you a bit more, and then people forget what happened the year before.”
Ricciardo has been completely overshadowed by Lando Norris at McLaren, despite the Australian claiming victory at the Italian Grand Prix last year, the team’s first win in nine years.
At times he’s look a defeated man, never more so than after a terrible weekend in Texas last month, where he finished 16th.
“That’s the issue now, people forget how good Ricciardo is because he’s had such a difficult year-and-a-half or two years,” Button said.
“But he has the talent, and in a car that suits him, he would show his skill and then he has the opportunity to race in a top team again. But sitting out? People just remember what happened last year.
“It’s a tricky one and I really struggle to see him coming back to a competitive team after having a year out.”
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