Daniel Ricciardo has his eyes fixed on an F1 World Championship, but he definitely likes the temptation to venture into other racing categories outside of his comfort zone.
The Australian driver has expressed his desire to dip his toes into the IndyCar series and supercars when not directly participating in them, and then at least try out the different cars and tracks.
Stream the Formula 1 Made in Italy Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try it now for 14 days free of charge>
Ricciardo’s team McLaren, which he joined this year after a turbulent two-year stint at Renault, is involved in IndyCar, while his new boss Zak Brown has ties to supercars through his role as part of the Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU) outfit.
WAU has previously thrown wildcard entrants into Australia’s most iconic supercars race, the Bathurst 1000, and McLaren has also driven cars in IndyCar.
Joining the Woking team means Ricciardo is in the best position to experiment outside of Formula 1 when the schedule allows, and the honey badger is excited to see what else is out there.
“I have to ask Zak. Even if I don’t make the race, I have to drive a supercar around Bathurst, ”said Ricciardo in an interview with GP Racing Magazine.
“Whether it’s a private test or the actual race, I have to do it. And I think now I have a good opportunity with Zak as a friend and boss.
“He really wants to try to get us into the other open wheelers in the USA, the IndyCars. So there is a lot to do. “
A start to this year’s Bathurst 1000 would be extremely unlikely as it takes place on the same weekend in October as the Japanese Grand Prix. The Bathurst 12 Hour, where GT cars drive the legendary circuit for 12 hours, is a more viable option next year as it usually takes place in early February.
“When I signed with him (Brown) early on last year we had these conversations and it was thrown in there,” We should get you to do the Bathurst 12 Hours, “Ricciardo told GP Racing.
“If he asked me and it works logistically, I would say yes.”
Ricciardo is enjoying life at McLaren, setting the pace in the first pre-season training sessions and finishing seventh at the Bahrain GP despite having his car damaged during the race.
Former F1 driver became respected broadcaster and analyst Martin Brundle believes Ricciardo can succeed at McLaren if he’s willing to be patient.
“I think if he has the patience and they have the patience if he stays with McLaren it can bring him back to the top of the field,” Brundle told the podcast “In The Fast Lane”.
“McLaren has canceled a new wind tunnel (but) they are currently using the Toyota in Cologne and with COVID they couldn’t use that much either.
“So, I think he has to be patient there because the fruits of this new wind tunnel won’t come through for two to three years, and I think he’s got that with him.”
