Australian Method One star Daniel Ricciardo will go away McLaren on the finish of the 2022 season, he and the group confirmed through a press release.
Key factors:
- Daniel Ricciardo is not going to see out his three-year take care of McLaren
- The Australian didn’t say what his subsequent transfer in Method 1 can be
- Ricciardo delivered the group their first race victory since 2012, on the 2021 Italian Grand Prix
The 33-year-old Australian has struggled for his greatest type ever since becoming a member of the group from Renault in 2021 and has been ceaselessly outperformed by British teammate Lando Norris.
2022 has been notably tough for the Australian, and whereas Norris sits seventh within the Drivers’ Championship on the mid-season break, Ricciardo is languishing in twelfth, 57 factors adrift of his teammate.
Whereas Ricciardo has solely been in points-finishing positions 4 instances, with a greatest efficiency of sixth in Australia, Norris has solely missed the highest 10 3 times and been on the rostrum as soon as.
Ricciardo, who leaves the group one season earlier than his contract was as a result of finish, mentioned that leaving early was “bittersweet”.
“It has 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 (group bosses) Zak (Brown) & Andreas (Seidl) we’ve determined to terminate my contract with the group early and comply with mutually half methods on the finish of this season,” Ricciardo mentioned.
“From a outcomes perspective, to persistently get the outcomes and that type that I used to be after, it wasn’t at all times there and it made some weekends powerful. I felt these,” he added in a social media publish.
Regardless of his struggles since becoming a member of the group from Renault, Ricciardo was capable of win the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in 2021, grabbing the group’s sole race win since 2012.
It’s a feat that teammate Norris has not been capable of replicate regardless of his burgeoning profession and success, and was one thing that Ricciardo stays pleased with.
“I even have many comfortable recollections of my time on the group, I take into consideration Monza, and I take into consideration standing on the highest step, I take into consideration bringing the group their first win since 2012, that form of stuff was superior.”
Staff Principal Andreas Seidl agreed with Ricciardo.
“We are going to always remember that memorable race win in Monza which was an incredible enhance for the entire group,” Seidl mentioned earlier than he lamented Ricciardo’s 2022.
“There was a contract and it wanted mutual settlement to terminate it early, however after dialogue with Daniel we felt it was the suitable factor for either side to separate methods for subsequent yr.
“In case you look again on the final 18 months of our journey collectively, Daniel and McLaren, it’s clear we haven’t achieved the consequence we wished.”
Whereas Ricciardo will drive out the season, McLaren didn’t identify his substitute, although fellow Australian Oscar Piastri has been broadly linked to the Woking-based outfit, after he brought about controversy by rejecting a proposal to take a free seat at Alpine Racing, the place he has been the reserve driver.
Ricciardo — who for a few years drove for Purple Bull and had been linked with Ferrari in these days — remained coy on his choices shifting ahead however has been linked with a number of groups as hypothesis about his future at McLaren mounted in latest weeks.
“The game, I nonetheless find it irresistible. I nonetheless have that fireplace in me, that perception in my stomach that I can do that on the highest degree. All that stuff remains to be there,” he mentioned.
“I believe for the long run, what lies forward, I’m not certain but, however we’ll see.”
Seats might be obtainable at Alpine, AlphaTauri, Alfa Romeo or Haas, and it was reported this week by some shops that Haas boss Gunther Steiner made Ricciardo a proposal to affix them.
