Daniel Ricciardo living his best life as McLaren’s horrorshow drags on

Daniel Ricciardo shouldered the blame for the bulk of McLaren’s struggles, now the Australian star is enjoying the last laugh.

Turns out it wasn’t all Daniel Ricciardo’s fault.

The Perth native endured a torrid two-year stint at McLaren as he copped hits from all corners over lacklustre displays.

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The knives were out for the 33-year-old throughout 2022 as he failed to keep his car in the points race after race.

After the team opted to cut his contract short in favour of rising Aussie star Oscar Piastri, fans believed the Woking-based outfit was set to turn a corner.

But now Ricciardo, and his fans, are revelling as McLaren have slumped from bad to worse following a disastrous Miami Grand Prix on Monday.

Piastri’s nightmare start to his F1 career continued as he made his way across the line second last with Lando Norris marginally ahead in 17th place.

Maybe I should’ve stuck with Alpine. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

The latest outing continues what has been a horror 2023 campaign for the papaya’s, as they’ve registered only a measly 14 points.

In comparison the team had 39 points on the board after the opening five races, Norris was responsible for 31 of those.

This year Norris has only managed to score 10 points, leaving him ninth on the drivers standings with Piastri down in 14th on four points.

McLaren are currently tied in equal-fifth on the constructors standings, way off the pace of Red Bull, Aston Martin, Mercedes and Ferrari.

We want you back. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The horrorshow in Miami once again had the Formula 1 world declaring Ricciardo as the big winner after he was sensationally axed by the team.

As the team struggles continue, Ricciardo fans just keep piling onto their misery. It’s worth noting Ricciardo received a reported payout of up to $24 million.

Fans had a field day on social media in the wake of the Miami Grand Prix, pointing out the team couldn’t pin there latest failure on the Perth native.

One user wrote: “I know though that Daniel Ricciardo is 100% enjoying watching the struggles of McLaren. It must be quite cathartic and therapeutic.”

Another added: “In a season of snores … McLarenF1 getting that karma for what they did to

Daniel Ricciardo is the only thing keeping me going.”

Another wrote: “BTW what a slay from Daniel Ricciardo being paid 36 mil to not drive an absolutely garbage car.”

@McLarenF1 trying to figure out how to blame @danielricciardo for the #MiamiGPpic.twitter.com/6OLXZq58dR

— HELP IS ON THE WAAAAY DEAR! (@forhisgreatname) May 7, 2023

The future looked bright for McLaren when they finished third in the constructors’ championship in 2020, but the former giant of F1 has failed to make inroads since.

Norris has long been touted as a future world champion with Piastri placed in a similar boat to his British teammate.

Despite those predictions the two have struggled to make any inroads on the grid as the machinery fails to maintain pace.

F1 icon Martin Brundle said the team had “a lot of work to do” after their Miami nightmare where a strategy error plagued their day.

McLaren will look to bounce back and add to their lowly points tally when the Formula 1 grid head to Imola for the next race on Sunday, May 21 at 11pm (AEST).