When Nico Rosberg stunned the Formula 1 world by announcing his retirement only days after winning the 2016 World Championship, Mercedes suddenly found itself facing an unexpected crisis. The German manufacturer had just completed another dominant season in the turbo-hybrid era and needed a driver capable of partnering Lewis Hamilton immediately. According to Sky Sports journalist Rachel Brookes in her book Drive, Mercedes identified Daniel Ricciardo as their ideal replacement for Rosberg ahead of the 2017 season.

At the time, Mercedes had already established itself as the benchmark team in Formula 1. Since the introduction of the hybrid power units in 2014, the Silver Arrows had controlled the sport with remarkable consistency. Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg had delivered championship after championship, while rival teams struggled to close the gap. Red Bull Racing, despite being one of the strongest chassis constructors on the grid, suffered from unreliable and underpowered Renault engines. Their cars remained competitive on certain circuits, but they lacked the raw pace to consistently challenge Mercedes over a full season.

Inside the paddock, many believed Daniel Ricciardo was one of the few drivers talented enough to immediately thrive in a championship-winning Mercedes car. His aggressive overtaking style, calm personality, and natural racecraft had already earned him a reputation as one of Formula 1’s brightest stars. Mercedes management reportedly admired not only his speed, but also his ability to perform under pressure and maintain positive relationships within a team environment.

Rachel Brookes revealed that Mercedes seriously explored the possibility of pairing Ricciardo with Hamilton. Such a line-up would have created what many fans and analysts considered a dream partnership. Hamilton was already a three-time world champion entering 2017, while Ricciardo had become famous for defeating multiple teammates and producing spectacular race victories. Together, they could have formed one of the most formidable driver combinations in Formula 1 history.

Brookes wrote that although Ricciardo was under contract with Red Bull at the time, contracts in Formula 1 are often negotiable if all parties involved can reach an agreement. Behind closed doors, Mercedes reportedly believed there was at least a chance they could persuade Red Bull to release the Australian driver for the right financial compensation. Rumors circulated through the paddock that Toto Wolff personally admired Ricciardo’s character and saw him as an ideal long-term option for the team.

The situation became even more dramatic because Rosberg’s retirement announcement came extremely late in the year. Only five days earlier, Rosberg had celebrated the greatest achievement of his career after securing the title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Fans expected him to return in 2017 to defend his crown against Hamilton in another fierce championship battle. Instead, he shocked the entire motorsport world by stepping away from Formula 1 entirely, citing the mental and emotional exhaustion required to defeat Hamilton over a full season.

His decision left Mercedes scrambling for alternatives at a time when most teams had already finalized their driver line-ups. Furthermore, the 2017 season introduced a completely new set of aerodynamic regulations. The cars became wider, faster, and physically more demanding to drive. Teams had already spent months designing their new machinery, and any driver joining late would have less preparation time compared to rivals who had been involved in development discussions from the beginning.

According to people close to the negotiations, Mercedes considered several possibilities. Fernando Alonso’s name briefly surfaced in rumors, while Pascal Wehrlein, a Mercedes junior driver, was also evaluated internally. However, Ricciardo quickly emerged as the preferred candidate because of his proven race-winning ability and his relatively young age. Some insiders even believed Hamilton welcomed the idea of racing alongside Ricciardo because the Australian’s relaxed attitude contrasted sharply with the tense relationship Hamilton had shared with Rosberg.

Imagining Ricciardo in silver overalls beside Hamilton immediately captured the imagination of Formula 1 fans. Many believed the partnership would either become legendary or explode into internal rivalry similar to the Hamilton-Rosberg era. Ricciardo’s late-braking overtakes and fearless racing style would likely have produced thrilling wheel-to-wheel battles against Hamilton throughout the season. Social media discussions at the time speculated about whether Ricciardo could genuinely challenge Hamilton for the championship in equal machinery.

However, despite Mercedes’ interest, the move never materialized. Brookes did not clarify whether Ricciardo personally rejected the opportunity or whether Red Bull refused to release him from his contract. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner had consistently praised Ricciardo as a central part of the team’s future plans, especially as Max Verstappen continued developing into a future superstar. Losing Ricciardo to their biggest rival would have been a massive blow to Red Bull’s ambitions.

There were also personal factors involved. Ricciardo had built strong relationships within the Red Bull organization after spending years progressing through their junior driver program. Leaving the team abruptly may have felt disloyal, particularly after Red Bull had supported his rise to Formula 1. Additionally, Ricciardo may have questioned whether entering Hamilton’s team environment was the best strategic move for his own career. Hamilton was deeply established at Mercedes and had enormous influence within the organization.

Ultimately, Mercedes turned to Valtteri Bottas, who had spent three seasons racing for Williams. Because Williams used Mercedes engines, negotiations moved relatively quickly, although Mercedes reportedly paid around £10 million to secure Bottas’ release. Bottas proved to be reliable, professional, and fast enough to help Mercedes continue dominating Formula 1. While he rarely matched Hamilton consistently over an entire season, he contributed heavily to the team’s Constructors’ Championships and collected nine Grand Prix victories during his Mercedes career.

Meanwhile, Ricciardo remained with Red Bull and continued producing memorable performances. One of his greatest victories came at the chaotic 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, where he fought from deep in the field to claim an incredible win. His daring overtakes and trademark celebrations kept him among the sport’s most popular drivers. However, as Red Bull continued building around Verstappen, Ricciardo eventually made the surprising decision to leave for Renault in 2019, seeking a new challenge and the possibility of leading his own project.

That move, however, failed to deliver the success many expected. Renault struggled to compete consistently near the front, and although Ricciardo occasionally impressed with podium finishes, he never seriously fought for victories. He later joined McLaren in 2021, earning an emotional win at Monza but struggling overall to adapt to the car. Ironically, McLaren’s competitiveness improved shortly after his departure, leading many fans to wonder how different his career might have looked had he accepted the Mercedes opportunity years earlier.

Today, the story remains one of Formula 1’s great “what if” scenarios. Had Ricciardo joined Mercedes in 2017, he might have fought for multiple world championships alongside Hamilton in one of the most dominant cars of the modern era. The dynamics inside the team could have transformed the sport entirely, potentially creating another iconic rivalry. Instead, Formula 1 history followed a different path, leaving fans to imagine what might have happened if Daniel Ricciardo had traded Red Bull blue for Mercedes silver at the peak of his career.