Amid speculation on the McLaren team's 2023 lineup, Daniel Ricciardo asserts that he is "not walking away" from either McLaren or Formula 1.
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Daniel Ricciardo had a difficult time adjusting to the Working team’s equipment since joining McLaren last year. The Australian driver has often struggled to match veteran teammate Lando Norris in either qualifying or races, with the exception of a rare highlight winning the 2021 Italian Grand Prix. This has led to rumour’s concerning the 33-year-future old’s. The driving talent pool at McLaren keeps growing. Alex Palou, the defending IndyCar champion, joined the racing team while Colton Herta participated in team testing. Ricciardo made it clear today that he won’t join any of McLaren’s other teams, including its IndyCar team or upcoming Formula E team. Ricciardo stated in a social media post this morning that he will compete in Formula 1 until his McLaren contract expires.
“There have been a lot of rumours around my future in Formula 1, but I want you to hear it from me. I am committed to McLaren until the end of next year and am not walking away from the sport. Appreciate it hasn’t always been easy, but who wants it easy! I’m working my ass off with the team to make improvements and get the car right and back to the front where it belongs. I still want this more than ever.” Ricciardo wrote on his Twitter and Instagram pages.
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The day before Ricciardo made his remarks, Chip Ganassi Racing claimed that it had extended the contract of reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou, but McLaren announced that it had acquired Palou. Without specifying which series McLaren Racing will use the Spaniard Palou, who is qualified for an FIA superlicence as an IndyCar champion, Palou’s entrance was revealed by McLaren. The organisation will have teams in Formula 1, IndyCar, Formula E, and Extreme E in 2023.
In addition to having fellow IndyCar front-runner Pato O’Ward in its stable, McLaren gave Andretti Autosport IndyCar racer Colton Herta a test drive in its 2021 F1 car earlier this week as the 22-year-old American is being prepared for FP1 outings this year. All of the talented young drivers McLaren is assembling for its lineup across series are rumoured to be considering a move to Formula 1. In order to bolster its three-car 2023 IndyCar lineup, McLaren last month hired 2016 Indy 500 champion Alexander Rossi from Andretti Autosport. However, the team also had the option of keeping Felix Rosenqvist on the IndyCar roster or moving him to Formula E.
