Hakkinen: Ricciardo changed teams too often

Former Formula 1 driver Mika Hakkinen believes that after missing the season in 2023, Daniel Ricciardo may not return to Formula 1… 

Mika Hakkinen: "In 2002, I decided to skip the season and after three or four months, being in Monaco, I realized that I definitely did not want to return. Performing in Formula 1 requires a lot of strength and energy, physical and psychological. And by the middle of the season, I had already firmly decided that I would not return.

If Daniel takes a year off, he may not come back. If you are asking yourself whether it is worth ending your career, you will no longer be able to perform. My situation was somewhat different, I was a two-time world champion and achieved my goal. Daniel's is different. His results have worsened, now he is not in the best shape, many doubt his speed. This will greatly complicate the return after a one-year break.

If you are not fast enough, there is always some reason. And I think he doesn't talk about it with the press, with the fans and the team. But he himself must understand why he cannot perform at the level of a teammate. 

It became more difficult for the drivers. In our time, we were constantly working on tests, and the car was made especially for you. Now the car cannot be adjusted to a specific driver, because there are no tests during the season. And if the car was initially far from ideal, you have to adjust to it, adjust your driving style, and it's not fun at all when everything works out for your partner, but you don't. 

I hope Ricciardo will come back. He is a bright driver. In my opinion, he changed teams too often. Red Bull, Renault, McLaren. Changing the team is always a risk. It can be difficult for engineers to understand what a driver needs. Sometimes it takes too long”.