Former Formula One star urges Daniel Ricciardo to make IndyCar switch next season

Former Formula 1 star Romain Grosjean has urged Daniel Ricciardo to switch to IndyCar after revealing he would not be on the grid next year.

The Australian, who finished Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, admitted he will ‘pause’ his career in the sport after losing his McLaren seat.

Ricciardo will leave the Woking team at the end of the season to be replaced by compatriot Oscar Piastri.

The eight-time Grand Prix winner was under contract with McLaren until the end of the 2023 campaign, but after two disappointing seasons, the team chose to split up earlier than planned.

Ricciardo said he remains focused on returning to Formula 1 in 2024, but Grosjean has told the Aussie to follow suit and move to IndyCar.

“I would love to see Ricciardo in IndyCar,” the Frenchman tweeted in response to a tweet from Motorsport.com asking his followers where Ricciardo should go.

Grosjean knows all about swapping Formula 1 for the American series. The 36-year-old spent 10 seasons with Renault, Lotus and Haas before moving to the US at the end of the 2020 season.

Romain Grosjean has urged the Australian to move to IndyCar next season

Grosjean raced in Formula 1 for 10 seasons before moving to IndyCar in 2021

Grosjean has racked up four podiums in 30 starts since competing in the US Series

The Frenchman, who survived a horrific crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020, has finished on the podium four times in 30 starts in his first two IndyCar campaigns.

However, it seems unlikely that Ricciardo will take up Grosjean’s offer.

The Australian has been linked this season with a move to NASCAR and even V8 Supercars as his future became increasingly certain, but a switch on Saturday seemed out of the question.

Ricciardo finished 11th in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on Sunday

The 33-year-old has endured two very difficult seasons at McLaren since he joined in 2021

“Certainly the plan is still to be involved in Formula 1,” he said. “It’s like hitting pause, the way I see it.

“As far as my F1 career is concerned, the full intention is for 2024.

‘If I feel it’ [racing in other series] If it’s going to deviate from my target, I’ll still say it’s not real what I’m looking at.

“As fun or cool as it sounds to get involved in something else, the truth is I’m not there mentally yet.”