After mutually agreeing to split with McLaren at the end of the 2022 season, Daniel Ricciardo now faces the prospect of not having a seat on next year's Formula 1 grid.
Since leaving Red Bull in 2018, the Australian has struggled to perform consistently, picking up two podiums and one race win in his combined four years with Renault and McLaren.
So far this season, he has claimed points on just four occasions, currently sitting 14th in the driver standings in what has been a season to forget.
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Ex-Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 commentator Karun Chandhok has followed the Australian racer's career and is unsure what exactly has contributed to Ricciardo's struggles.
"I think if anyone had the answer to [why Ricciardo has dipped in form], he would have had a much less painful last 18 months," Chandhok told The Sporting News.
"Unfortunately, nobody really knows what the truth of the matter is.
"Everyone’s got theories on the car not suiting him, the style of driving the McLaren being different, or whatever. But it's all just theories.
"Really, I think the fact of the matter is the logical expectations of going to McLaren haven't been met. And that's on all sides – for Daniel as a driver and for McLaren as a team.
"And it's a real shame … I hate to see things going so badly for him as they have the last 18 months."
With only six races remaining in the current F1 season, teams are making moves to lock in their driver lineups for 2023.
As it stands, Alfa Romeo, Alpine, Haas and Williams each have one seat unfilled.
Ricciardo told Sky Sports he would be open to a return to the Renault family with Alpine and has also been linked with a move to American-owned team Haas.
According to Chandhok, it won't be a straightforward process for the 33-year-old to find a new home.
However, the former Hispania Racing and Lotus F1 driver does believe teams like Williams or Haas - who have found themselves at the rear of the grid in recent years - should aim to secure the services of the experienced Australian.
"I think it's gotten a bit tricky now. The market is moving so quickly," he explained.
"I think if you're a team like Williams or Haas, if you have the choice of getting Daniel Ricciardo or a young rookie, you should think about getting Daniel Ricciardo.
"Ultimately, though, it's going to come down to the financial sense of it.
"For Daniel to take a seat at Williams or Haas, there is going to be a financial knock-on effect with that.
"So, is he willing to take a pay cut and drive for a team like Williams or Haas? Or does he feel he doesn't want to do that?
"That's an interesting one for him to decide."
At the Belgian Grand Prix, Ricciardo admitted he would consider a sabbatical from motorsport altogether if he isn't picked up by an F1 team for next year, stating: “It's the only racing that I am interested in."
If he is unable to secure a seat, Chandhok hopes that the eight-time race winner seeks out opportunities elsewhere in the motorsport world.
"I'm not sure about [Ricciardo taking a sabbatical]," he said.
"I think that taking a break from driving full-time makes it harder to come back ... he needs to keep himself active.
"If there's no seat in F1, then he's got to find a different way to stay active, whether it's in sports cars, or IndyCar, or some other high-level form of motorsport.
"If he does want to get back into F1, you can't afford to get rusty.
"But we have seen drivers go out and come back - tons of drivers have done it.
"Alain Prost and Niki Lauda came back and won World Championships!
"So, he wouldn't be the first one to take a sabbatical if that was the case. But it does make it harder to come back."
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Karun Chandhok is the host of the inaugural BonusFinder World Gas Pumping Championships 2022. The competition took place in London, England before 31-year-old Joe Chapman was announced the winner.
