UPDATE [25/08/22]: A day after we speculated about the next team to offer Daniel Ricciardo a contract, both the Aussie motorsport talent and McLaren Racing have – at long last – officially announced their relationship will be dissolved at the conclusion of this season (complete with eight-figure implications).
The Woking-based team has reportedly agreed to pay out the remainder of his original contract. Meaning Daniel Ricciardo is set to pocket his US$17 million (AU$24 million) salary + performance bonuses on top of whatever he’ll be earning with his next team. All in all, not the worst result.
“It’s been a privilege to be a part of the McLaren racing family for the last two seasons, but following several months of discussions with [CEO Zak Brown] and [Team Principal Andreas Seidl], we have decided to terminate my contract with the team early and agree to mutually part ways at the end of this season,” Daniel Ricciardo said in a statement.
“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. I’ve enjoyed working with everyone at McLaren both trackside and back in Woking and will be giving my all on and off track as we enjoy the remainder of the season together.”
“I’ll be announcing my own future plans in due course.”
At the time of this writing, Daniel Ricciardo remains the only McLaren Racing driver to have won a grand prix in the past 10 years.
Original Article – Daniel Ricciardo Has Been Contacted By Haas F1, According To ESPN
As the 2022 season’s summer break comes to an end, Daniel Ricciardo’s future in Formula 1 (as well as his next team) still remains in doubt.
For context, after a shock retirement announcement from four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, another round of musical chairs was instigated.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso defected from Alpine F1 to take Vettel’s seat over as Aston Martin. Alpine then promoted reserve driver Oscar Piastri to take Alonso’s place.
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In a plot twist absolutely nobody saw coming, the young Australian driver outright rejected the offer with reports he’s now on track to replace his 33-year-old compatriot at McLaren Racing in 2023.
“I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year,” Piastri, who’s managed by none other than Mark Webber, expressed via social media.
“This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.”
Which brings us to now…
“ESPN understands Ricciardo was informed of the decision by the team boss Andreas Seidl after the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday evening and is now in discussions with the team over a financial settlement to leave his contract a year earlier than its 2023 expiration date,” explained Nate Saunders of ESPN.
“Multiple sources have told ESPN McLaren and Piastri have signed a deal for next year and now only Alpine’s appeal to the FIA contract recognition board could stop him driving there.”
Saunders added: “The Piastri coup is as big a moment for McLaren as it is embarrassing for Alpine, who look set to have lost a two-time world champion and a potential future world champion to rival teams in the space of 72 hours.”
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“Oscar Piastri, 21, will join Lando Norris, 22, for his rookie year in what will be a strong candidate for the best young driver pairing on the F1 grid.”
Even if transplanting Piastri from Alpine to the Woking-based team proves unsuccessful – or rather, contractually prohibited – McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown still has Alex Palou and Colton Herta up his sleeve.
So what could be the next team for Daniel Ricciardo once the ongoing negotiations finalise his expulsion from McLaren Racing?
Daniel Ricciardo’s Next Team (Formula 1 Predictions)
Scenario A: Return to Alpine
The most likely of outcomes.
As we’ve previously noted, the door is wide open at Alpine F1 (formerly known as Renault back when he raced for the French outfit).
Alpine is in need of a veteran to balance out the team for 2023 – currently comprised solely of Estaban Ocon – and Daniel Ricciardo certainly wouldn’t be doing himself any favours by staying with McLaren.
The only real issue: would Ricciardo be re-welcomed into the fold after defecting from Alpine F1 during the Renault days for McLaren Racing? According to Alpine Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer, there’d be “no issues at all.”
“I mean, if you look at Fernando, for example, he comes and goes, and I think that happens to other drivers too,” Otmar Szafnauer told motorsport.com.au when prompted about the possibility of giving Danny Ric an Alpine seat.
“And I don’t think that’s an issue at all. I think what we need to focus on is – like I say – the plans that we have for the next 89-88 races.”
“We’ve got to make sure that we complement that plan with the best driver that we can, and there are some options out there for us. And we put the best driver in next to Esteban [Ocon] so that we can move forward towards what we’ve been planning.”
Considering the treatment he’s been copping from Zak Brown & Co, there’s nothing fans would love more than to see Daniel Ricciardo race against McLaren next season and outperform the lads in papaya. Even if it’s only by a razor-thin margin.
Scenario B: Return to AlphaTauri
Clearly, the Red Bull cars suit Daniel Ricciardo’s driving style the best.
While there’s zero chance he’ll ever take the seats of either reigning world champ Max Verstappen or the Minister of Defence in Sergio “Checo” Perez, there might be some wiggle room for a second stint with Red Bull Racing’s junior team: AlphaTauri (formerly known as Toro Rosso back when he raced for the Italian outfit).
AlphaTauri has been yielding some results with their bet on Formula 1 sophomore Yuki Tsunoda, sure, and there might still be a bitter taste in the mouth of Team Principal Helmut Marko from Danny Ric’s grand exodus to Renault. But with all the sponsorship money he brings with him, I’m sure something can be worked out. After all, money talks. Everything else walks.
And who knows? Perhaps Daniel Ricciardo will thrive with his old team a la Pierre Gasly.
Scenario C: Replace Nicholas Latifi at Williams
At one stage, it was believed that Oscar Piastri would be replacing Williams Racing’s Nicholas Latifi, whose mistakes are beginning to get… expensive. That’s in addition to the fact Latifi has been consistently outperformed by his teammates (in terms of both qualifying and race day).
Reuniting with fellow ex-Red Bull Racing talent Alex Albon would also solve Williams’ perennial need for funds. One of the key reasons Latifi has remained here for so long, of course, being the dollars his billionaire daddy forks out.
It would, however, be a major step down in terms of machinery.
Scenario D: HAAS enters the chat
The most recent development of this entire saga? Daniel Ricciardo has been contacted by Haas Team Principal Gunther Steiner.
“In this year’s driver market, Daniel Ricciardo is a long shot to race at Haas next year,” reports Nate Saunders of ESPN.
“ESPN understands Steiner called the eight-time race winner ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.”
No further details at this stage. Mick Schumacher better watch his back.
Scenario E: Retire from F1
Make no mistake, there’s still a lot of fight left in this dog. It’s more of a question as to whether he’ll deem Formula 1 worth competing in without a winning car or team. Pulling a Romain Grosjean and making the switch to the like of IndyCar might actually be the move.
Or perhaps he’ll simply decide to cash in his chips and spend some time with his new girlfriend, actress and model Heidi Berger (daughter of former Austrian F1 driver Gerhard Berger). Chill out on a yacht. Make a living as a Hollywood producer.
If this is indeed the end for Daniel Ricciardo, here’s everything the man has accomplished across his 11-year tenure in Formula 1, in addition to whatever may come between now and the final race of the 2022 calendar at Abu Dhabi:
- 1,293 career points
- 223 race entries
- 223 race starts
- 3 pole positions
- 16 fastest laps
- 32 podiums
- 8 race wins – Monza Grand Prix (2021), Monaco Grand Prix (2018), China Grand Prix (2018), Azerbaijan Grand Prix (2017), Malaysia Grand Prix (2016), Belgium Grand Prix (2014), Hungary Grand Prix (2014), Canada Grand Prix (2014)
