‘Felt bad’: Mark Webber apologises after masterminding Daniel Ricciardo axing

Oscar Piastri comes into F1 after a ruthless back-stabbing of his countryman Daniel Ricciardo, who once again showed nothing but class.

Daniel Ricciardo has buried the hatchet. Photo: Getty Images

Daniel Ricciardo may be struggling to get it together on the F1 track right now but off the track, he’s once again showing nothing but class.

Ricciardo finished 17th at the Dutch Grand Prix after qualifying 18th in what was far from an ideal weekend.

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The outgoing McLaren driver was the casualty in countryman Oscar Piastri’s disruptive entry to F1 where he usurped the Aussie veteran’s position after two largely unhappy seasons with the team.

It’s left Ricciardo at a crossroads after he revealed he wants to stay in F1 but is facing a year out of the sport — if not the end of his career.

Ricciardo has finally broken bread with Piastri and his manager former Aussie F1 star Mark Webber, revealing there was no hard feelings.

Daniel Ricciardo is a belter of a bloke. Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

Ricciardo explained Webber told him he “felt bad” as Piastri’s move came with such negative consequences for the veteran, but added it was just business and not personal.

“We hadn’t seen obviously each other in person (since it all started),” explained Ricciardo.

“I feel he didn’t need to, but he felt like he wanted to, in a way, apologise and try to just see how I’m doing.

“Obviously I know how this sport is: it’s nothing personal to me. And he wanted to make sure that I knew that and understood that. And just to make sure that I felt okay.

“He feels really bad, obviously, [in] how it’s gone down and obviously how things have been put out there in the media. So yeah, it was obviously nice to speak to him.”

And once again showing his class, Ricciardo also revealed he had spoken with Piastri to ensure the youngster knew there were no hard feelings.

“I’ve also spoken to Oscar, to be honest, and just made sure that there’s no bad feelings there. I understand how this works, Ricciardo added.

“He’s trying to make it: he’s trying to get into Formula 1. And this moment should be also really big for him. I don’t want to make it a bad situation for him.

“That’s that: it’s nothing personal. So that’s all the conversation was. And I truly do wish him well. I want him to have a good run in Formula 1.

“If there’s no communication, you never know what someone’s feeling or thinking. Obviously he’s a lot younger than me. I don’t know how he feels: if he’s nervous to reach out and see how I’m doing.

“Also, I wanted to make sure that it was clear that I understand his position. And absolutely no hard feelings.

“So that was good. I think it made him feel better. And yeah, I think the last thing he wanted was to have some weird tension between a few of the only Australians in this sport. So I’m glad that we’ve done that.”

Ricciardo and Webber know each other. Photo: AFP PHOTO / LOIC VENANCE

Details have emerged after Piastri’s bombshell move to McLaren was finally confirmed last week, including that the rookie signed on July 4. This is long before Fernando Alonso threw a spanner in the works by signing for Aston Martin and saw Alpine announce Piastri, only for the young Aussie to refuse the seat.

Nine days after Piastri was signed, Ricciardo took to Instagram to confirm he was committed to staying at McLaren.

“There have been a lot of rumours around my future in Formula 1, but I want you to hear it from me,” he wrote.

“I am committed to McLaren until the end of next year and am not walking away from the sport. Appreciate it hasn’t always been easy, but who wants easy!”

Later in July, McLaren boss Andreas Seidl confirmed the team’s commitment to Ricciardo.

Asked about the timeline in the Dutch Grand Prix paddock, Ricciardo said: “To be honest, on the date, that’s the first I’ve heard. I’m not aware of obviously time lines and this and that, what the team’s discussing.

“In terms of timelines – also I guess what the team does preparing Oscar – that’s not also my business in terms of what day they spoke, this or that.

“If that’s the case, then so be it. It’s not really my decision to make.”

No knives in Oscar Piastri’s back … yet. Source: Instagram

Piastri also opened up over the weekend on his Alpine exit, claiming the ordeal was “quite upsetting” as the team bosses were well aware of his negotiations when it was announced he would be taking Alonso’s seat.

“My decision (to join McLaren) was made well in advance (of Alonso’s departure), which made Alpine’s announcement probably even more confusing and upsetting because we had told the team that I wasn’t going to continue,” he said.

“It was quite upsetting as the announcement was false and it also denied me the opportunity to properly say goodbye to everyone at Enstone.

“I had been with team for a bit over two and a half years now, and for the rest of the team to find out I was leaving in that manner was very upsetting.

“I still haven’t had the opportunity to say goodbye and it’s something I want to do to show my gratitude to all the men and women at Enstone.”

Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer also claimed Piastri “smiled and said thank you” when he was told he would be announced.

“It was done publicly in front of some members of the team who were oblivious to the situation and I didn’t want to cause a scene in front of them,” Piastri said of the claim.

“Once we were in private, I told Otmar what our position was and what he had been told multiple times before that. It was very surprising to me to make that announcement.”