Daniel Ricciardo loses McLaren seat after F1 struggles

Australian Formula 1 star Daniel Ricciardo will leave the McLaren team a year early after struggling to keep pace with his team-mate.

The termination of Ricciardo’s three-year contract at the end of the 2022 season leaves the highly likeable and respected Aussie searching for a new F1 team for next year.

Ricciardo, an eight-time grand prix winner, is expected to be replaced by another Australian, rising star Oscar Piastri.

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The news has been expected after months of speculation that McLaren had lost faith in Ricciardo’s ability to be competitive.

Ricciardo, who joined McLaren in 2021, is the only McLaren driver to have won an F1 race since 2012 after his victory in the 2021 Italian Grand Prix. His general form, however, has seen him struggle to get to grips with McLaren’s racing cars in both 2021 and 2022.

In 2022, Ricciardo has been several tenths slower on average in qualifying than his British team-mate Lando Norris. Ricciardo has also finished in the top six just once so far this season – in Australia – compared to four top-six finishes for Norris.

His best finish has been sixth place, whereas Norris has managed at podium – at the Emilia Romagna GP early in the season.

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Ricciardo is 12th in the F1 driver’s standings on 19 points; Norris is in 7th place with 76 points.

McLaren is currently in a tight battle with Alpine for fourth place in the constructors’ championship, with four points separating the two teams in Alpine’s favour.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has previously publicly acknowledged the team’s frustration with Ricciardo’s difficulties, as the Australian has tried to rediscover the form that made him one of the grid’s stand-out drivers during his spells with Red Bull and Renault.

In a statement, Brown said: “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.

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“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.”

Ricciardo said he has every intention of staying in F1 beyond 2022.

“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 and Andreas [Seidl, McLaren F1 team principal] 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.

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“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.”

Alpine is tipped to be the team most likely to sign Ricciardo for 2023. The French team previously employed the Australian when it was known as Renault (Alpine’s parent company) before he moved to McLaren.

Alpine has a vacant seat after incumbent No.1 driver Fernando Alonso announced unexpectedly last month that he was signing for Aston Martin in 2023.

It did prematurely announce the signing of Piastri for 2023 before the Formula 2 champion and Alpine reserve driver declared on Twitter that he would not be racing for the team next year.

Alpine still believes it has a firm agreement in place with Piastri, with the contract situation to be resolved by a ruling by Formula 1’s Contracts Recognition Board.