What’s next for Daniel Ricciardo after McLaren debacle?

Daniel Ricciardo’s departure from McLaren was Formula 1’s worst-kept secret, but where will the Australian find himself next year?

It was Formula 1’s worst-kept secret.

Daniel Ricciardo will not be driving for McLaren next year, with the two parties agreeing to part ways with 12 months remaining on his contract.

The Australian confirmed the “bittersweet” news to Instagram on Wednesday evening, telling his 7.3 million followers: “2022 will be my last year with McLaren.

“Obviously we put in a lot of effort on both sides but it just hasn’t worked the way we wanted so the team has decided to make a change for next year.

“We had a lot of discussions but in the end we mutually agreed it was the right thing for both of us.

“I will continue to do the rest of this year, absolutely. And I’ll continue to give it my all.

“For the future, what lies ahead, (I’m) not sure yet. But we’ll see.”

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The 33-year-old driver, who has won eight grand prix races since making his F1 debut in 2011, will reportedly receive an eight-figure payout from McLaren in the region of $24 million.

He is expected to be replaced by young compatriot Oscar Piastri, the reigning F1 champion and Alpine’s current test driver.

Earlier this month, the 21-year-old Aussie prodigy stunned the F1 community by rejecting Alpine’s seat offer for 2023, sending the rumour mill into overdrive.

And Ricciardo’s departure all but confirms that Piastri will race alongside Britain’s Lando Norris at McLaren next year.

But what’s next for Ricciardo?

“This isn’t the end for me, but I can’t control anything that lies ahead at the moment,” he told The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald.

“In terms of me still having the will to compete at the highest level, that’s absolutely still in me. The last 18 months … there’s been some lows, but that will to compete hasn’t gone away.

“I’m talking to teams, but I want to do this competitively, not do it just to do it. For now, I don’t know where that leaves me.”

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

Alpine

Ricciardo’s most likely option appears to be former team Alpine — previously known as Renault — where he spent two seasons in 2019 and 2020.

However, Ricciardo jumped ship and signed for McLaren ahead of the 2021 season, a decision that did not sit well with the Renault hierarchy, particularly former boss Cyril Abiteboul.

Abiteboul has since left the team, but according to Autosport, current Renault Group boss Luca de Meo was particularly frustrated by Ricciardo’s departure.

Despite the lingering bad blood, Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer — at the helm of the rebranded Alpine — hinted he would be willing to sign Ricciardo if the opportunity presented itself.

“I mean, if you look at Fernando (Alonso), for example, he comes and goes, and I think that happens to other drivers too,” he told Autosport.

“And I don‘t think that’s an issue at all. I think what we need to focus on is, like I say, the plans that we have for the next 89-88 races.

“We‘ve got to make sure that we complement that plan with the best driver that we can, and there are some options out there for us. And we put the best driver in next to Esteban (Ocon), so that we can move forward towards what we’ve been planning.”

After two-time world champion Fernando Alonso signed a multi-year deal with Aston Martin, a vacancy emerged at the Enstone-based team that is yet to be filled.

Despite being a backward step of sorts, rekindling his partnership with Alpine seems to be the most logical destination for Ricciardo.

Alpine is desperately searching for a positive spin on the Piastri debacle, and signing Ricciardo would be perceived as a victory for the team.

Let bygones be bygones.

McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo. Photo by Jure Makovec / AFP

Back of the grid

Alfa Romeo, Haas and Williams have seats available in 2023, and it’s fair to assume each of them would be eager to sign a driver of Ricciardo’s calibre.

Haas team principle Guenther Steiner, who has become a cult hero for his antics on Netflix documentary series Drive to Survive, reportedly contacted Ricciardo before the mid-season break.

Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen is contracted with Haas on a multi-year deal, but young prodigy Mick Schumacher’s current contract expires at the end of 2022.

Although Haas’ car has improved drastically over the past 12 months, it’s still considerably slower than the likes of McLaren and Alpine.

But Haas may not even be able to accommodate Ricciardo’s reported mind-boggling wage. The Aussie currently earns a $20.8 million annual salary, while Schumacher is paid less than $2 million.

However, Ricciardo’s remains one of the sport’s most marketable athletes, and the smaller teams at the back of the grid would be frothing at the potential endorsements he would bring.

According to ESPN, at least four rival constructors, including Williams, have gotten in touch with the Aussie during the mid-season break.

It is unlikely Alfa Romeo, Haas and Williams will sign another driver while Ricciardo is still on the market.

IndyCar

McLaren has been expanding its family throughout the motorsports world, with chief executive Zak Brown helping create an IndyCar squad and an Extreme E team.

In 2023, they will have a presence in Formula E as well.

And following Ricciardo’s sacking, Brown confirmed that the team had offered Ricciardo an IndyCar ride to keep him on its roster, potentially saving the company tens of millions.

But although racing in the Unites States’ leading single-seater championship would have been tempting, Ricciardo is determined to stay in Formula 1.

“Yes, we spoke about (IndyCar),” Brown said.

“As Andreas (Seidl) said, he’s an exceptional racing driver and any team that he drives for is so privileged to have Daniel drive for them, and we do have a variety of racing activities.

“But, that being said, he’s very focused on Formula 1.”

Ricciardo, who has a close affiliation with the United States and is a lifelong NASCAR fanatic, would become an immediate superstar if he joined McLaren’s IndyCar team.

But he has previously admitted: “Ovals creep me out a little bit.”

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo. Photo by FERENC ISZA / AFP

Take a break

Drivers taking a sabbatical from the sport is rare, but not uncommon.

Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen spent two years away from F1 before returning in 2012, while the legendary Michael Schumacher signed with Mercedes four years after retiring from Ferrari in 2006.

But according to ESPN, Ricciardo is reluctant to take a break next year because it could quickly turn into retirement if the right opportunity does not materialise in 2024.

His emotional statement proves he has no interest in stepping away just yet: “I’ve never been more motivated to compete and be a part of a sport that I love so much and look forward to what comes next.”

It’s hard to imagine Ricciardo not racing in F1 next season, and no doubt he’ll do whatever he can to stay on the grid.

Retirement

Let’s hope not.