Daniel Ricciardo has contradicted rumors of an early departure from McLaren. The Australian Formula 1 driver says in a statement on Wednesday that he wants to serve out his contract with the British racing stable.
Ricciardo himself sowed doubts about his contract after the Spanish Grand Prix at the end of May, which runs until the end of 2023. The 33-year-old driver said he would talk to McLaren “in the summer” “about next year”, after which he it was pointed out by a journalist that he still has a contract until 2023.
It came in the midst of a string of lesser performances, which he broke through only moments later. “Ricciardo does not live up to our expectations,” said team boss Zak Brown in Monaco.
A long line of names of drivers who could replace Ricciardo have since passed. Last weekend, for example, Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri was added, a compatriot of the driver from Perth.
“There are a lot of rumors about my future in Formula 1,” Ricciardo said on Wednesday Instagram account† “But I want you to hear it from me yourself.”
Daniel Riccardo has been in the shadow of his teammate Lando Norris this season.
Daniel Riccardo has been in the shadow of his teammate Lando Norris this season. Photo: Getty Images
‘Realize that it hasn’t always been easy’
“I will give everything for McLaren until the end of next season and will not walk away from the sport,” says the current number twelve in the World Cup standings. “I realize it hasn’t always been easy, but who wants something easy? I’m working very hard with the team to make the car better and get back to the front where we belong.”
“I still want this, more than ever,” concludes Ricciardo, who is already looking forward to the next Grand Prix in France. “See you at Le Castellet.”
The eight-time Formula 1 race winner currently has less than a third of the points of his teammate Lando Norris (17 to 64). In nine of the eleven races this season, he qualified behind his 22-year-old teammate.
McLaren lets IndyCar drivers taste Formula 1
Meanwhile, McLaren has several drivers from the American IndyCars try a Formula 1 car. For example, the American Colton Herta tested on Tuesday with a car from last year in Portugal. The Mexican Pato O’Ward is also part of this program.
On Wednesday, McLaren announced that IndyCar champion Alex Palou is transferring to the American branch of the team. In addition, the Spaniard is allowed to test with a Formula 1 car from McLaren.