Aditya ChaudhuriIt had been coming and now it is here; McLaren have announced the inevitable: Daniel Ricciardo will be leaving the team at the end of the 2022 season.
Ricciardo’s future with the team had been under immense doubt, not only for his below-average performances but also because of the movement in the drivers market. Ricciardo is most likely going to make way for Oscar Piastri, who has been linked with the seat.
Piastri, Ricciardo’s compatriot, even turned down a seat offer from Alpine, which only added more fire to the rumours about Piastri joining McLaren, who, though, are yet to confirm their driver line-up for the upcoming season.
Ricciardo, winner of eight Grands Prix, moved to McLaren at the start of the 2021 season, shifting from Renault. His move to the Woking-based team was a highly-anticipated one, but it never lived up to those expectations. Even though Ricciardo gave the team their only win since 2012, at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, his stint with McLaren has been disappointing. The Australian has regularly fallen short of his teammate Lando Norris’ pace and just hasn’t been one with the car.
Also Read – What next for Daniel Ricciardo?
Speaking about his impending departure, Daniel Ricciardo, commented:
“It’s been a privilege to be a part of the McLaren Racing family for the last two seasons but following several months of discussions with Zak & Andreas we have decided to terminate my contract with the team early and agree to mutually part ways at the end of this season. I’ll be announcing my own future plans in due course but regardless of what this next chapter brings, I have no regrets and am proud of the effort and work I gave McLaren, especially the win in Monza, last season. I’ve enjoyed working with everyone at McLaren both trackside and back in Woking and will be giving my all on and off track as we enjoy the remainder of the season together. I’ve never been more motivated to compete and be a part of a sport that I love so much and look forward to what comes next.“
Andreas Seidl, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team, added:
“I would like to thank Daniel for his dedication and contribution over the last two seasons so far. Despite the shared challenges, he has always turned up with a fighting spirit and positivity and helped the entire team to always keep pushing forward. We will never forget that memorable race win in Monza which was a great boost for the whole team. We still have an important battle in the Constructors’ Championship ahead of us for the remainder of the season and we look forward to battle this out with Daniel and Lando.“
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, stated:
“Daniel has been a great addition to McLaren, and it’s been a pleasure working with him. I’d like to thank him for all of his efforts over the last two seasons both trackside and back at base. It’s no secret that we hoped we could achieve more together but seeing him stand on the top step of the podium as a McLaren driver was a highlight. We wish him well for the future and let’s go enjoy the rest of the season together.“
Although Ricciardo hasn’t confirmed where he will be moving to next season, if at all, reports suggest he could going back to Alpine to replace Fernando Alonso, or even Haas, who recently reached out to the Australian as well.
