After Daniel Ricciardo left McLaren at the end of the year, German Formula 1 team boss Andreas Seidl does not want to comment on possible successors.
“I’m not taking part in any speculation,” said Seidl ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
When asked about the further schedule, the McLaren team boss from Passau emphasized that the focus is currently on Ricciardo (33) and then on the next race.
Room free for Piastri
The Australian has to leave McLaren early at the end of the year after two years. This frees the spot for top talent Oscar Piastri (21), who had previously been announced in a summer posse by Alpine as a regular driver for next year. However, the young Australian contradicted this representation, saying that he would prefer to go to McLaren.
McLaren wants to announce its future driver pairing “in due course”. The second regular driver is the Englishman Lando Norris (22), who has a contract until the end of 2025. “The goal is that we have two drivers who always manage to get the most out of the package we give them,” said Seidl. The German self-critically admitted that in Ricciardo’s case he hadn’t been able to provide a “better car”.
Ricciardo has been left behind by Norris too many times. He’s not sure about his future yet. “I still have the fire in me,” assured Sebastian Vettel’s former Red Bull teammate.
Eight-time Grand Prix winner Ricciardo is a hot contender at Alpine for 2023. But there is also speculation about Haas, where Mick Schumacher is fighting for a new contract.