3rd driver means not on the race grid anymore. only as a test driver and reserve driver if the 2 main drivers lewis hamilton or Charles Leclerc are injured can only race on the grid again. if there is an offer from another team to be the main driver or on the science grid, he will definitely choose to leave ferarri.
Yeah, it means nothing at all you are right.
Like 2 years ago with Covid, many teams got the reserve driver but everyone was calling Hulkenbergh when someone was positive.