“McLaren Racing and Daniel Ricciardo can confirm that Daniel’s contract for 2023 has been terminated early, both parties have agreed for him to leave the team at the end of the 2022 season.”The team said in a statement.
Ricciardo, who arrived at McLaren in early 2021, never settled in the team. Despite his victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the 33-year-old Australian has not shone: after finishing eighth in last year’s World Championship, he is currently in twelfth position, behind his co-worker lando norrisseventh before the Belgian Grand Prix to be held on Sunday.
“We have tried a lot on both sides, but it did not work out as we wanted”Ricciardo declared on social media. “The team decided to make a change for next season. We have talked a lot, but, in the end, we have mutually agreed that it was the right thing for everyone”he continued.
While Briton Norris, 22, has his future secured at the Woking (England) firm, the name of the second McLaren driver for 2023 will be announced “in due course,” McLaren said.
The position vacated by Ricciardo could be filled by another Australian, Oscar Piastri, who has been immersed in controversy this summer over the departure of Spaniard Fernando Alonso from Alpine.
At the beginning of August, the Franco-British team Alpine announced that Piastri, a promising 21-year-old driver and currently its reserve driver, would start next year, replacing Alonso, who has signed for Aston Martin.
But, Piastri quickly denied the news by saying that he has not signed any contract with Alpine for next year.
According to the specialized press, Piastri would have reached an agreement with McLaren.
If this information is confirmed, Ricciardo could sign for Alpine to stay in Formula 1.
The Australian, who achieved seven victories with Red Bull, has already competed with Renault (Alpine’s predecessor) in 2019 and 2020.
Although he is “still not sure” of his future, Ricciardo says he still has the “flame” of Formula 1.
Sad day
The decision to break the relationship with Daniel Ricciardo at the end of the Formula One season is a sad day for McLarenbut the alliance just wasn’t working, the team’s chief executive, Zack Brown.
The smiling Australian driver is an F1 fan favorite and his arrival last year at McLaren, the former home of such greats as Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton, held great promise.
Brown He said the eight-time grand prix winner, who led a one-two finish at Monza in Italy for the team last season, had brought a lot of energy to the team and his positive outlook would be missed.
“Today is a sad day because things have not worked out as we expected”added the American, noting that he considers the pilot a great person with whom he has had good times.
“We are in a business (…) we have to focus on the final performance and we wish Daniel the best”Brown stressed, also indicating that there is no ill will between the McLaren and the driver.
The Australian never really felt comfortable in the car despite all his previous experience, especially when trying to push it to the limit.
Asked about a possible fan reaction after the team dropped the driver while he still had a year left on his contract, manager Andreas Seidl highlighted the effort put into making things work.
“We have tried everything possible on both sides. Unfortunately we couldn’t make it work, which is obviously also my responsibility.”said.
Source: Ambito
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