Daniel Ricciardo has been ousted by McLaren after the British F1 workforce terminated his contract. Ricciardo, an eight-time grand prix winner, had a deal till the tip of 2023, and final month insisted he “is dedicated to McLaren till the tip of subsequent 12 months”.
However McLaren’s hierarchy has moved to finish the 33-year-old’s disappointing two-season stint with the workforce by paying off the ultimate season of his deal. Ricciardo will depart McLaren on the finish of the present marketing campaign, and is predicted to get replaced by the highly-rated Oscar Piastri, 21.
This month Alpine introduced that Piastri, a reserve driver for the French workforce, could be racing for them subsequent season – just for the Australian to say he was not – with the Components Two champion believed to have already agreed phrases with McLaren.
McLaren mentioned they are going to announce their plans for subsequent season sooner or later. Talking earlier than this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, Ricciardo mentioned: “It’s been a privilege to be part of the McLaren Racing household for the final two seasons however following a number of months of discussions with [McLaren CEO] Zak Brown and [team principal] Andreas Seidl we’ve got determined to terminate my contract with the workforce early and conform to mutually half methods on the finish of this season.
“I’ll be asserting my very own future plans sooner or later however no matter what this subsequent chapter brings, I’ve no regrets and am happy with the trouble and work I gave McLaren, particularly the win in Monza, final season.
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“I’ve loved working with everybody at McLaren each trackside and again in Woking and will probably be giving my all on and off monitor as we benefit from the the rest of the season collectively. I’ve by no means been extra motivated to compete and be part of a sport that I like a lot and look ahead to what comes subsequent.”
Brown mentioned this season that Ricciardo, a former Pink Bull and Renault driver, has not met his expectations since his arrival on the workforce final 12 months.
Though Ricciardo ended McLaren’s nine-year profitable drought with victory on the Italian Grand Prix final season, he has persistently been outperformed by Britain’s Lando Norris. Norris has certified forward of Ricciardo at 11 of the 13 races in 2022, and has scored 57 factors greater than his teammate.
Brown mentioned: “Daniel has been an incredible addition to McLaren, and it’s been a pleasure working with him. I’d prefer to thank him for all of his efforts during the last two seasons each trackside and again at base. It’s no secret that we hoped we might obtain extra collectively however seeing him stand on the highest step of the rostrum as a McLaren driver was a spotlight. We want him nicely for the long run and let’s go get pleasure from the remainder of the season collectively.”
Ricciardo’s future is unclear. He might change Aston Martin-bound Fernando Alonso at Alpine – the workforce he left to hitch McLaren – whereas Alfa Romeo, Haas and Williams are but to announce their plans for 2023.
Brown added: “We aren’t going to get into any contractual particulars with Daniel, apart from we got here to a really amicable and agreeable answer. It’s truthful to say we’re stunned the deal didn’t ship. He has a improbable CV, and hopefully he’ll discover his kind in a brand new setting
“We don’t have any information as to his plans, apart from his need to be on the grid, and we’re very hopeful that Daniel will probably be in F1 subsequent 12 months.”
