‘Totally committed’: McLaren boss confirms Daniel Ricciardo’s future

McLaren boss Zak Brown has confirmed Daniel Ricciardo’s future after his criticism of the Aussie sent the F1 world into a spin.

McLaren boss Zak Brown has confirmed Daniel Ricciardo will see out his contract with the team and won’t be sacked early.

Brown took the F1 world by surprise earlier this year when he declared Ricciardo’s performances since joining McLaren have “not met his or our expectations” and Lando Norris has a clear “edge” over his teamamte.

The McLaren CEO then put the cat among the pigeons when he suggested Ricciardo’s contract with the papaya team, which expires at the end of 2023, was not watertight and there were clauses in it that would allow McLaren to part ways with him if his performances don’t improve.

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It has since been reported Ricciardo can break his contract but McLaren can’t. But his poor results have done little to quell speculation this season could be the 33-year-old’s last in F1.

Ricciardo is 14th in the drivers’ championship and has only finished in the top 10 twice so far this season.

But in an interview with Fox Motorsport host Jessica Yates, Brown denied McLaren was planning on giving Ricciardo the flick, suggesting he will remain with the team at least until his contract expires at the end of next season.

Yates asked: “Will he see out his contract?” to which Brown responded: “Oh yeah.”

“We just keep pushing hard,” he said.

“We love working with him. He loves the team. We’ve seen when we give him a car that’s capable of winning, he can win in it.

Zak Brown’s comments about Daniel Ricciardo took the F1 world by surprise. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

“He didn’t feel he had a good season last year and he still won (at Monza). So it’s in there. “We’ve just got to figure out how to unlock it, give him a car that he’s more comfortable with. We’ve got a great relationship.”

Brown’s criticism of Ricciardo sent the F1 rumour mill into overdrive, but he explained he was simply being honest, adding his comments weren’t any harsher than how Ricciardo rates his own performance.

“No, not at all within the race team,” he said when asked if his words caused a stir in the McLaren garage.

“I know it caused a lot of rippled outside.

“Daniel and I have a great relationship. We had dinner in London not too long after that, we’re trading WhatApps all the time.

“Someone asked me a question and I gave them an honest answer. It’s the same answer Daniel has given and would give — which is: we’re not where we want to be.

“On the flip side if I said, ‘Everything’s great’, people would say, ‘Really, you’re happy with 12th?’. Well of course I’m not happy with 12th. It was just an honest answer. It wasn’t meant to be critical.

“It doesn’t mean we don’t think he can win us more races, doesn’t mean we’re not trying unbelievably hard.

Can Danny Ric breathe a sigh of relief? (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

“Quite the opposite — I know he can win us more races, we’re trying unbelievably hard but given his resume, and how Lando’s going, do we expect him to be right next to Lando, right in front or right behind?

“Yeah, and so does he. And we’re going to get there. We’re totally committed to it.”

Brown took a swipe at former F1 world champion Jenson Button, who said he was “surprised” Brown had criticised Ricciardo publicly and wasn’t “protecting” his driver.

“I saw one of our former Grand Prix drivers (Jenson Button) said, ‘We all know it, I can’t believe he said it’,” Brown said.

“It was like, ‘Well if we all know it, then what’s the big deal that I said it’.

“It wasn’t intended to be other than someone asked me a question, I gave them an honest answer.”

The F1 season continues at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday at 11pm (AEST). The only place to watch the action is on Fox Sports and Kayo.

Watch Jessica Yates’ full interview with Zak Brown on Kayo Freebies (no credit card details required to sign up).