“Daniel is just a brilliant character, a brilliant human being,” said Horner in a lengthy conversation about the mid-season driver change. “He lights up a room when he walks into it, he’s got that infectious smile. I hope he stays around the sport.
“We’ve made it very clear that we want him to remain in an ambassadorial capacity with the team. Of course, one never really knows. If Liam doesn’t get the job done, if Checo [Perez] doesn’t get the job done… We know what Daniel’s capability is.
READ MORE: How one-of-a-kind Ricciardo left a permanent mark on F1 – both on and off the track
“But I think for him, he knows at the age that he’s at, he’s had a great career [with] so many memories. The most disgusting thing ever was drinking champagne out of his sweaty boot, but he made it his own!”
Horner was also asked if there’s any regret about Ricciardo’s second stint ending in such a way, with the Australian heading into the 2024 campaign hoping to convince Red Bull that he deserved another chance at the senior team.
