Daniel Ricciardo was the fall guy despite McLaren’s all around struggles

Daniel Ricciardo’s two-season tenure at McLaren saw him continually singled out as the fall guy despite the team’s struggles.

The Aussie was always singled out. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images,)

Daniel Ricciardo’s struggles behind the wheel of the McLaren made him the perfect fall guy for the struggling Formula 1 team.

The 33-year-old Aussie endured a tumultuous two-year stint with the Woking-based outfit as he struggled to emulate his Red Bull days.

Watch the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2023 Live and ad-break free in racing on Kayo Sports this Sunday April 30 9:00PM AEDT. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

As we all know those lofty heights of seven race victories didn’t come to fruition, the Perth native did however claim McLaren’s first Grand Prix victory in some time as he edged out teammate Lando Norris.

As the two seasons dragged out, the team’s struggles only went from bad to worse but it was Ricciardo who was constantly in the spotlight and being thrown under the bus.

McLaren finished third in the constructors standings in 2020, behind only Mercedes and Red Bull. The signs from that season were evident and it’s why hopes were high when Ricciardo made the switch from Renault.

But in Ricciardo’s first season the team fell down to fourth in the standings as Ferrari leapt above them.

Last season they fell another spot as they were overtaken by Alpine.

And yet it was the Aussie who had the finger pointed at him for struggling to deliver, despite the car simply not being up to scratch to deliver the results the team were dreaming of.

The Aussie was always singled out. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images,)

McLaren boss Zak Brown, who became public enemy number one among Aussie F1 fans, said Ricciardo often stole the headlines despite other struggles plaguing the team.

“We started [2022] with some challenges in testing with the brake ducts. The car was okay,” said Brown as per RacingNews365.com.

“Then we had our driver-related issues that we were working through which took the attention, the headline.

“Meanwhile, underneath the surface, I wasn’t happy with the pace of the development of the racing car. That was the second half of last year – if you look at the pace of development with some of the other teams where they started and where they ended, versus where we started and where we ended.”

Those remarks however from Brown, whether he meant to or not, continue to place the blame on Ricciardo.

Yes the normally smiling assassin struggled to make an impact, with only seven finishes inside the top 10 during the 2022 season.

Ricciardo was always the fall guy. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

McLaren have struggled to deliver. Picture: David Caird

But his teammate Norris remained in the clear despite going backwards on what he’d achieved the season before.

Norris has long been touted as a potential Formula 1 world champion, but even he couldn’t come close to the level many believe he’s capable of.

The 23-year-old only managed to secure on podium finish after spraying the champagne four times in 2021.

In 2023 with Norris and Aussie rookie Oscar Piastri, the McLaren struggles have been laid bare with the team fifth in the constructors standings.

All 12 of their total points came during a chaotic Australian Grand Prix. Both drivers finished well outside the points during the opening two races of the season.

With Daniel Ricciardo no longer in the garage, Brown is going to have to find a new fall guy to blame the team’s struggles on.

Originally published as Daniel Ricciardo was the fall guy despite McLaren’s all around struggles