Official: Ricciardo to leave McLaren at the end of the season
Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren have announced the departure of the driver at the end of the season. The driver, who had committed to a 3-year contract in 2021, has been released from his contract and will continue his adventure with a new team.
In a statement, McLaren announced Ricciardo’s departure at the end of the season. The team wanted to thank the driver for the past two years spent with them. On his part, Ricciardo posted a video on social media to explain the situation.
The constructor paid for Ricciardo’s final year of the contract so that he could find a new team. Several constructors could try to recruit him, such as Haas, which has an available seat alongside Magnussen.
In his video, Ricciardo recalls the good times spent with the team, notably his victory at Monza in 2021. He also expresses his gratitude for McLaren’s trust in him and the team.
« It was a privilege to be part of the McLaren Racing family for the past two seasons, but after several months of discussions with Zak & Andreas, we have decided to terminate my contract with the team earlier and part ways at the end of the season. I have no regrets and I am proud of the effort and work I have put into McLaren, especially the victory at Monza last season.
The team director Andreas Seidl, as well as the CEO Zak Brown, also wanted to pay tribute to the driver and thank him for his good and loyal service.
(I) I would like to thank Daniel for his dedication and contribution over the last two seasons. We will never forget that memorable victory in Monza, which was a big boost for the entire team,” said the McLaren CEO.
Daniel has been a great asset for McLaren, and it has been a pleasure working with him. I would like to thank him for all his efforts over the past two seasons, both on track and at the factory. It is no secret that we hoped to achieve more together, but seeing him on the top step of the podium as a McLaren driver was a highlight. Zack Brown expressed this.
An inevitable departure?
With the recent turbulent weeks in the Formula 1 transfer market, with Vettel’s retirement, Alonso’s departure to Aston Martin, and the Piastri affair, a new case comes to disrupt Formula 1.
While McLaren was pushing for the arrival of Piastri, it seemed evident that Ricciardo was going to leave the McLaren ship. The team believes that the driver is not as performing as Norris. Ricciardo is currently ranked 12th and has scored 19 points, while Norris is 7th with 76 points. He is capable of brilliant moments but is quite inconsistent throughout the season.
The Australian driver will soon join a team, but it remains to be seen which one. The next few days are likely to be decisive for his future.
