‘I still believe I belong’: Daniel Ricciardo’s defiant stance amid McLaren contract saga

Daniel Ricciardo’s career is hanging by a thread, but the Australian driver still believes that he belongs on the Formula 1 grid.

Daniel Ricciardo of Australia. Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career is hanging by a thread, but the Australian driver still believes he’s capable of winning races.

The 33-year-old has registered just one podium finish since joining McLaren ahead of the 2021 season — last year’s remarkable victory at the Italian Grand Prix.

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But apart from that one triumphant weekend in Monza, nothing has gone right for the Perth driver at McLaren.

Ricciardo has been repeatedly outclassed by younger teammate Lando Norris since joining the Woking-based team, currently sitting 12th on the drivers’ standings with 19 points after 13 races.

Meanwhile, Norris is seventh with 76 points, including a podium finish at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in April.

And Ricciardo’s poor results on the track have come back to haunt him, with reports suggesting he will be replaced by young compatriot Oscar Piastri at McLaren next year.

The eight-time grand prix winner is reportedly seeking a whopping eight-figure payout to walk away from his contract with McLaren, which expires at the end of the 2023 season.

Speaking exclusively to Speedcafe.com, Ricciardo discussed how he keeps himself motivated amid the most difficult period of his F1 career.

“There’s certainly a few things,” he said.

“Like, the competition – it has to be one of the only sports in the world where there’s only 20 people that are doing it.

“The competition is such like a small, 0.001 per cent of a group. So to be able to not only be part of that group, but to compete inside that group, that’s such a unique thing in itself.

“And so I love that.

McLaren's Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo. Photo by Jure Makovec / AFP

“The truth is, the highs you get are just so high because so much goes into it.

“Of course you take risks, like to win a race for example, you haven’t gone for a Sunday drive; you’ve put it all on the line, the team has, you’ve pushed your body, mentally and physically.

“So then the high and the reward is pretty amazing and pretty spectacular.

“I could probably keep going, but there are a few things.

“I believe I still thrive off it because I still believe I belong (in Formula 1) and can do it.

“That’s what really gets me jacked.

“And the love of it, as well as knowing that any weekend that could be there, like it could be around the corner, you know.

“Monza last year, that was … you know, a week before in Zandvoort, no-one was predicting that, not even myself, so even just the thought of a weekend like that could be one week away, it’s pretty cool.”

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher confessed he “can’t imagine” Ricciardo will get another chance in the sport following his messy contract saga with McLaren.

The F1 season returns next weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix, with lights out scheduled for 11pm AEST on Sunday, 28 August.