F1
The data that shows why McLaren had to let Ricciardo go
Daniel Ricciardo’s unhappy time at McLaren has come to an end – we look at the data which shows the team had no choice but to make a change
Daniel Ricciardo to leave McLaren at the end of current F1 season
F1
McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo have agreed to terminate his contract at the end of this season by mutual agreement
Ricciardo found the going tough at McLaren
Grand Prix Photo
Daniel Ricciardo will leave McLaren at the end of the 2022 season after agreeing a deal to terminate his contract early.
The Australian had a year left on his contract but, after two years of struggling with the car and being outperformed by team-mate Lando Norris, his final race for the team will be at this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
In a video posted on social media, the 2021 Italian Grand Prix winner said that the team had “decided to make a change for next year.”
However, he then went on to say that the decision was taken mutually between himself, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andreas Seidl. It follows much speculation which began in May when Mark Hughes wrote that Ricciardo’s place on the grid was at risk.
“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,” he said in a McLaren statement.
“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.”
— Daniel Ricciardo (@danielricciardo) August 24, 2022
The news comes just over a month after Ricciardo said that he was “committed to McLaren until the end of next year… working my ass off with the team to make improvements”.
But his 57-point gap to Norris in the championship, who has 76pts to Ricciardo’s 19, as well as his consistently slower qualifying and race pace has brought an early end to the deal.
“Daniel has been a great addition to McLaren, and it’s been a pleasure working with him,” said Brown. “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.”
Ricciardo vs Norris at McLaren
| 2021 | 2022 | |
| Ricciardo’s gap to Norris after 13 races | 58pts | 57pts |
| Ricciardo’s gap to Norris at the end of the season | 45pts | n/a |
McLaren said that it plans to announce Ricciardo’s replacement in “due course” and is understood to favour reigning Formula 2 champion and Alpine reserve Oscar Piastri, if a contract dispute with Alpine can be resolved.
If so, Ricciardo could find himself with an option to travel in the opposite direction and partner Esteban Ocon next year.
He hinted that he was planning to stay in F1, adding: “I’ve enjoyed working with everyone at McLaren and will be giving my all on and off track as we enjoy the remainder of the season together.
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“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.”
Ricciardo joined McLaren from Renault in 2020 full of promise after two podium finishes in a car that was only good enough for fifth in the constructors’ championship.
But from the start, he failed to gel with the car, which lacked the aggressive front-end grip, which brought him seven Grand Prix victories during five seasons with Red Bull.
This year’s all-new car brought the same traits and Ricciardo continued to be comfortable beaten by Norris, but not through lack of effort.
“I would like to thank Daniel for his dedication and contribution over the last two seasons so far,” said Seidl. “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.”
Ricciardo’s victory at Monza was a rare high point of his time with McLaren
Clive Mason/F1 via Getty Images
Wherever Ricciardo moves, his target will be to unlock the fearless overtaker of old, who often beat former team-mate Max Verstappen and was regarded as a potential champion.
His win at Monaco in 2018 is often seen as a career highlight where Ricciardo took a dominating pole in qualifying, and then won the next day with a wounded car which had 25% less horsepower than usual for the remaining 50 laps.
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