Daniel Ricciardo is reportedly to leave McLaren at the end of 2022 season. The Australian has not lived up to expectations since joining the Woking team in 2021 with his contract terminated to make way for a new driver.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has addressed his regret the situation and said he ‘does not recognise’ his former driver.
“It’s just very sad. Obviously, I’m not close to it. I’ve spoken to Daniel a little bit. I don’t recognise him as the same driver as he was with when he was with us. He’s one of the best guys out there. He’s definitely got that capability.” Horner said.
Ricciardo came at Red Bull Racing in 2014 and drew attention for, in his first season, overcoming four-time champion Sebastian Vettel in the domestic duel in Milton Keynes. The Australian won three races against theGerman’s zero, adding 71 points more than Vettel in the championship.
During his time at Red Bull Ricciardo won seven of his eight career races; the most notable of these was the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix, when the driver held off Vettel’s flurry despite having engine issues.
Max Verstappen’s performance left Ricciardo with less room, therefore for the 2019 season, he moved to Renault (now Alpine). He secured two podium finishes with the French, both in 2020: one at the Emilia GP-Romagna and the other at the Eifel GP.
Ricciardo signed with McLaren after spending two years at Renault, and he has been there ever since. At the 2021 Italian GP, Ricciardo, who was already a McLaren driver, claimed the British team’s single win in the hybrid engine era since 2014.
“His confidence has been zapped. We’re used to seeing him on the podium, doing shoeys, messing around with that big smile, and we don’t see any of that anymore.” Horner said.
“I hope for him that he finds an opportunity to further his career because I think Formula 1 is better off having him in this championship than not.” he added.
