Daniel Ricciardo sacked: Four words that prove McLaren axing was not mutual

Despite McLaren’s best efforts to suggest Daniel Ricciardo’s departure was a mutual decision, a video posted by the F1 star suggests otherwise. Read the inside story of his sacking.

Artwork for Ricc and Brown in F1

Despite McLaren’s best efforts to suggest Daniel Ricciardo’s premature departure was a mutual decision, a video posted by the Australian F1 star suggests things were far from amicable.

After months of speculation and public shaming, the West Australia’s tenure at the British team was terminated just days before the resumption of the season with Australian rookie Oscar Piastri expected to be named as a replacement in the coming days.

Ricciardo has negotiated a $14.5 million payout of the final deal of his contract, but that figure represents about half of what he was owed and when combined with the insulting nature of his recent treatment by McLaren the emotion of the situation was clearly evident from his video post.

A joint statement from Ricciardo, McLaren team principal Andreas Seidel and Zak Brown made claims that termination suited all parties but vision of the 33-year-old on Instagram suggested it was all for show.

Daniel Ricciardo needs a 2023 drive

Four words in particular – perhaps a slip of the tongue – made it very clear that this was not mutual.

“The team has decided,” Ricciardo said. “To make a change for next year.”

The team.

A naturally affable character never without his trademark smile, Ricciardo was emotional and looked somewhat shell-shocked in a video message to fans posted on his Instagram.

“Bittersweet for sure,” he said with a slight shake in his voice. “But I think it’s best you hear it from me. 2022 will be my last year with McLaren.

“Obviously we put in a lot of effort on both sides but it just hasn’t worked the way we wanted.

“We had a lot of discussions but in the end we mutually agreed it was the right thing for both of us.

“From a results point of view, sure, to consistently get the results and that form I was after … it wasn’t always there. And that made some weekends tough. I felt those, absolutely.”

Ricciardo is yet to confirm what comes next but it is widely believed he will remain in F1.

McLaren could have been forced to pay him upwards of $21 million for the final year of his contract but the number is closer to $14.5m which is indicative that he will be taking a contract elsewhere.

Zak Brown has been very critical of Ricciardo this season

By accepting less than his full value, Ricciardo’s options remain open to be on the grid again in 2023.

“For the future, what lies ahead, (I’m) not sure yet. But we’ll see,” he said.

“The sport – I still love it. This hasn’t affected any of that. I still have that fire in me, that belief in my belly that I can do this at the highest level. All that stuff is still there … this isn’t it for me.”

In recent weeks it has been suggested Ricciardo will be involved in a straight swap between Alpine and McLaren with Piastri set to make his debut alongside Lando Norris in the papaya.

Alpine have been on an upwards trajectory in recent months so the move would not be a disaster for Ricciardo but he has history with the team formerly known as Renault.

He may also heed caution with the French team humiliated not only by Piastri – who publicly rejected them in August, but also by the fact former champion Fernando Alonso walked out on them.

Despite claims by Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer that all is well at the team, they were blindsided by Alonso’s defection to Aston Martin and the fact they expected Piastri to spend another year on the sidelines suggests that they are not in touch with the needs and ambitions of their drivers.

Daniel Ricciardo of Australia has lost his McLaren contract

Haas is another option for Ricciardo with paddock whispers suggesting Guenther Steiner has made contact in recent week.

An American side would be a terrific move for Ricciardo given his popularity in the USA and the fact F1 will race there three times from 2023.

As for Piastri, an announcement confirming a move to McLaren is expected before the Belgium Grand Prix this weekend in a deal orchestrated by his manager and former driver Mark Webber.

While an Aussie ousting compatriot might leave a bitter taste in some people’s mouths, it seems that Piastri’s move might not be solely down to the wheelings and dealings of Webber.

July 31st was a significant date in the Alpine-Piastri relationship. Had the Aussie not been offered a drive for 2023 by this date he was effectively a free agent.

It’s no coincidence that Fernando Alonso announced his departure form Alpine on August 1. The Spaniard’s manager is Flavio Briatore – also Webber’s former representative.

Word is the foursome worked closely around contractual dates in order to ensure both drivers got what they wanted.

Alpine would not give Alonso the two years he wanted and their intentions were to keep Piastri as a reserve for another season.

Neither situation worked hence both drivers walking out almost simultaneously.

As with most rookies, Piastri will only likely earn in the region of $720,000 in his debut season, a figure which pales in insignificance to the rumoured $32m deal McLaren’s No.1 driver Lando Norris is on.