Sometimes pretending that there are no threatening clouds on the horizon may not be the right strategy. This must have been thought by Daniel Ricciardo, who today tried to wipe them out and to strengthen his position in McLaren and Formula 1.
For several months the Australian’s seat has been hot due to the below expectations. It matters little that last year he managed to bring McLaren back to victory – at the Italian Grand Prix – after an immemorial time. It was a great success, but nothing more.
The confrontation with Lando Norris over the last two seasons has been merciless and in favor of the British driver. If for the first season there could have been the excuse for the change of car – Daniel had arrived from Renault while Lando was already in McLaren – now, with the change of technical regulations, this alibi has dissolved into thin air and Ricciardo has remained cornered.
Over the past few days, rumors of Ricciardo’s premature farewell to McLaren have intensified, especially after Colton Herta’s test at the wheel of an F1 McLaren on the Portimao track.
Colton Herta, McLaren MCL35M
Photo by: McLaren
However, in the early afternoon today, at 12.00 Italian time, Ricciardo decided to intervene by making his voice heard. Or rather, expressing his thoughts on his current situation and on the intention of wanting to continue with McLaren at least until the end of the existing contract that he signed at the end of 2020.
The short press release issued by the Australian, published on its pages of the main social networks, reads as follows:
“There have been a lot of rumors about my future in Formula 1, but I want you to hear things straight from me. I’m busy with McLaren until the end of next season and I’m not leaving the sport.”
“I realize that it hasn’t always been easy, but who wants it to be easy! I’m working hard with the team to make improvements and bring the car back to the top positions, where it should be. I want it even more than that. never. See you at Paul Ricard. Daniel. “
From these words emerges the will of the driver to want to continue his career in F1 and to try to improve what he has done so far. His salary ($ 20 million, the fifth highest paid after Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris), among the highest in current F1, is another sword of Damocles that is making it even more difficult for him to live with. with the current situation.
McLaren would certainly be better off finding a level driver but one who receives a much lower remuneration than what the former HRT, Red Bull and Renault driver currently gets, also for lowering the salary tied to drivers after bringing that to 19 million a year. by Norris.
Ricciardo’s intention is to fight and return to the spectacular and effective driver he was up to 2 seasons ago. However, he will have to be able to do it, because McLaren, in the past, has already shown that he cannot wait too long. Especially if the ambitions are to return to sailing in the top positions as happened in the decades preceding the current one.
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