MOTORSPORT: Ricciardo splits from McLaren

Daniel Ricciardo will depart from the McLaren Formula 1 team at the end of the 2022 season, paving the way for Oscar Piastri to take over one of the most prized seats in the world’s premier motorsport category.

By cutting short his multi-year deal by a season, the announcement ends an ultimately tough run for the West Australian with the Woking squad, with one highlight being victory in last year’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza – the first success for the team since the 2012 season.

“It’s been a privilege to be a part of the McLaren Racing family for the last two seasons, but following several months of discussions with [team principals] Zak [Brown] and Andreas [Seidl] we have decided to terminate my contract with the team early and agree to mutually part ways at the end of this season,” said Ricciardo.

“I’ll be announcing my own future plans in due course, but regardless of what this next chapter brings, I have no regrets and am proud of the effort and work I gave McLaren, especially the win in Monza last season.

“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.”

Ricciardo has long been tabbed as one of the best and brightest in the F1 paddock, with some opportunities still existing for him to remain on the grid in 2023.

Perhaps the most likely outcome is a return to the Alpine squad, formerly Renault, where he spent the 2019 and ’20 seasons, from which he earned two podium finishes and a best championship result of fifth.

Other opportunities could possibly exist at Alfa Romeo, Haas and Williams.

After being parachuted into the Hispania Racing squad midway through the 2011 season, Ricciardo spent two years at Scuderia Toro Rosso, before graduating to the lead Red Bull Racing team at the start of 2014, replacing countryman Mark Webber.

Seven wins followed through to the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix, while he finished third in the standings in both 2014 and ’16.

Along the journey he dominated teammates such as Vettel and Daniil Kvyat, and he took to challenge up to Max Verstappen, who subsequently had a break-out season in 2018.

Meanwhile for Piastri, his fate lies with F1’s Contracts’ Recognition Board, with both McLaren and Alpine having claims over his services, however, confirmation of a drive would be the culmination of an incredible rise through the F1 ladder system.

After claiming the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2019, he backed up with victory in his maiden GP3 season in 2020, which was kicked off with a race win on debut.

In 2021, he graduated to F2, where he joined George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Nico Hülkenberg, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in winning the second-tier title in his rookie season, while he also became the first driver to win three F1 feeder series titles in three consecutive years.

This year as a 21-year-old, Piastri has been Alpine’s reserve driver, while in March he was announced as a part of McLaren’s pool of standby pilots, which also features Stoffel Vandoorne, Nyck de Vries and Paul Di Resta.

As the silly season for 2023 kicked off, it appeared that Alpine was keen to retain their current driver line-up, featuring Esteban Ocon alongside Fernando Alonso, with Piastri primed to be loaned out to Williams for his rookie campaign.

However, with Alonso somewhat unexpectedly moving to Aston Martin to replace the retiring Sebastian Vettel, Alpine responded by announcing Piastri in the vacant seat, a move swiftly shot down by the Melbourne-native.

Formula 1 returns this weekend from its mid-season break with the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

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