The silly season is being much busier than expected after the earthquake that caused the news of Sebastian Vettel’s retirement at the end of the current season. The German driver announced that he would leave Formula 1 once he finished his commitments with Aston Martin in 2022, so the team had to find a reliable replacement to keep Lawrence Stroll ‘s project growing.
Thus, Fernando Alonso, after the rumors about his renewal with Alpine, suddenly announced that he would go to the Silverstone team to fill the four-time champion’s slot in 2023, so the French team’s midfielder would be free to, in initially, Oscar Piastri , the young pilot from the Enstone academy.
In response to the Oviedo’s departure, Alpine confirmed the Australian as the starter just a day later, but hours after the Gauls’ publication, Piastri denied that he had signed a contract that tied him to the French team, even the team’s boss Otmar Szafnauer explained that the pilot had been exploring other options.
That possibility was McLaren, which Motorsport.com has learned is negotiating with Daniel Ricciardo to seal his departure and welcome back Oscar Piastri, in what would be an exchange of compatriots. Given this series of news, the former Red Bull and Renault player has not yet spoken, but after the Hungarian Grand Prix, the last one before the summer holidays in which his future in Formula 1 will be decided, he explained how he will face the second part of the year.
“To be honest, these periods always give me a natural reset,” Ricciardo said. “After about ten or fourteen days off, the holidays are usually out of me again and the hunger for racing returns.”
“That’s how it normally works with me, so I go out with friends first, have a few beers and have some fun,” continued the McLaren driver. “Then I get to a point where I don’t feel guilty, but I think about doing it again”
The second half of the campaign will be an opportunity for the Australian to show that he deserves to continue in the highest category of motorsports if after the break his continuity is not confirmed despite the fact that he still has a valid contract with those from Woking.
Ricciardo’s performance in his journey through McLaren has not been as expected, but he already experienced something similar last year and recovered to maintain confidence: “It is a natural change [in the summer holidays] that occurs after fifteen days. It’s a bit like last season.”
“Then I entered the second half of the season with a blow, and the ball started to roll. The treble is intense [Belgium, Netherlands and Italy], and I want to stay strong, that’s the plan, although it’s easier say it than do it,” he explained.
On his relationship with the MCL36 and how complex it is to adapt to the current generation of single-seaters, the Australian said: “Some laps I can do well, so I’m happy with that. A few laps later I’m down four tenths, and I’m fed up.” .
“It’s not that simple, you have to overcome some obstacles, which makes it difficult. When you’re at the limit or when there are more factors, everything becomes more complex,” said Daniel Ricciardo, who is still waiting for the resolution of his future.
