After a complicated year 2021 in which he nevertheless achieved a victory (in Monza), Ricciardo was facing the great opportunity to recover his best level with the arrival of the new rules and justify the bet that McLaren made for him.
But 2022 hasn’t started brilliantly either and teammate Lando Norris is triple him in points, prompting rumors about Ricciardo’s future at the English team. The Australian has a contract until the end of 2023, but nothing guaranteed that he would fulfill it. First McLaren CEO Zak Brown threw a barb at him about his performance and then revealed that his deal has “clauses” that could cause a breakup early.
Although the team’s statements have softened and been much more gracious recently, McLaren’s moves again prompted a lot of guesswork. This week Colton Herta, a young IndyCar driver, has done a test with last year’s F1, where the simulator driver, Will Stevens, has also been.
In addition, this Tuesday McLaren announced the signing of the Spanish Alex Palou, who will also try Formula 1, as will the Mexican Pato O’Ward and probably the Indycar drivers Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi.
And other names have sounded for the team in case Ricciardo does not continue: that of Alexander Albon, the Alpine youngster Oscar Piastri and even Sebastian Vettel.
Given all the rumours, and only a few hours after the signing of Alex Palou revolutionized social networks, Ricciardo himself has used his account to answer.
“There have been a lot of rumors about my future in F1, but I want you to hear it from me,” he began.
“I am committed to McLaren until the end of next year and I am not going to leave the series. I admit that it has not always been easy, but who wants it to be easy! I am working hard with the team to improve and make the car good and back to the front, where it belongs.
“I still want this, more than ever. See you at Le Castellet.”
With those words Daniel Ricciardo maintains his speech that he has a contract and that therefore his seat will not be free until, at least, 2024. Even so, it does not seem that the runrún is going to soften in the short term, at least while they continue without great results .
