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Tyres NorthamptonThere's a sad tale in Formula One about a funny and likeable Australian who travelled to the other side of the world to become a racing driver. This young Aussie had the world at his feet when he joined the sport at a small team, impressing people with points-scoring finishes to make a constructor like Red Bull pay attention. Once the Austrian outfit recruited them, wins and podiums soon followed. Some seasons even saw championship ambitions, but they ultimately fell short. Then, the arrival of a new home-grown Red Bull talent put the writing on the wall, and the now not-so-young lad from down under left the team, unlikely ever to have a Formula One World Championship attempt again.
I, of course, am talking about Mark Webber, but the comparisons to Daniel Ricciardo are clear. However, Webber left the sport after breaking up with Red Bull, ironically to hand his seat and possibly his championship-losing curse to compatriot Daniel Ricciardo in 2014. Ricciardo's reputation has followed a bell curve; outperforming Sebastian Vettel right after the German took four titles made him an F1 superstar before tough times followed, first at Renault and now at McLaren, seemingly with no end in sight.
His fans, and he has many, would've hoped for 2022 to be a return to form with the new aerodynamic regulations, Pirelli tyres, and rules to reign in the "big three" at the front. Yet, for a second successive season, Daniel Ricciardo is being completely outshone by his young teammate Lando Norris and the questions about his future are piling up. The British prospect has 64 points and a podium this season, only not taking points in three Grand Prix. Meanwhile, the journeyman Aussie sits with 17 points, trophyless, and inversely has only scored on three Sundays.
As Ricciardo's performances continue falling short of his potential, the rumour mill continues speculating that McLaren is seeking a replacement to fill their second seat next to Norris in 2023. Mclaren's CEO Zak Brown might've tried some firefighting with his words in recent weeks, but his earlier public criticism of what was once his star signing threw the fuel on the flames to start with.
Brown and Ricciardo subsequently agreed that the two would remain partnered for 2023 in multiple interviews. An earlier statement where Zak Brown explained McLaren has mechanisms to change their contract now doesn't seem to be the case. However, actions speak louder than words. These press releases and social media announcements have done little to dispel the rumours, thanks to McLaren testing drivers in their F1 car and signing well-respected talent.
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IndyCar racer Alex Palou is the latest name added to the McLaren roster, set to join their IndyCar operation for 2023. Another hotly-tipped driver from across the pond, Colton Herta, tested the 2021 McLaren MCL35M at Portimao this month, and Pato O'Ward, McLaren's current IndyCar driver, has also enjoyed a test drive in Formula One machinery. All three would welcome an opportunity to race in F1 for McLaren, and Norris's seat is secure until 2026.
Outside of American attention, there are also Formula 2 drivers vying to find a seat in F1. Jehan Daravula enjoyed a two-day private Silverstone test with McLaren in June, and the grapevine suggests he'll be jumping back in the car soon. Although the Indian driver is more likely trying to get his superlicence than be in line for an F1 drive, his predecessor at his F2 team, Oscar Piastri, is more than ready, and reports suggest he's in a prime position to oust Ricciardo. So, could history repeat itself once again?
Australian Piastri follows in the footsteps of Charles Leclerc and George Russell in that he won F2 and F3 in his rookie seasons – something recent graduates like Mick Schumacher, Guanyu Zhou, and even Lando Norris never achieved. He's an Alpine driver, but the French squad likely can't place him in their team for 2023 yet have the budget to pay a rival constructor to babysit him. He's already one of McLaren's reserve drivers for this year. And the most curious thing about possible Piastri replacement considering Ricciardo's route to F1? Mark Webber is Piastri's manager.
In all likelihood, Ricciardo should remain in place for 2023 with his contractual situation and the public statements from McLaren. However, that doesn't mean his days aren't numbered. The days of Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton are disappearing – Verstappen and Leclerc fill the podium top spot these days. Ricciardo is of the former generation, not the latter, and whether it's 2022, 2023, or beyond when he leaves, like Webber before him, his time at the top is in the past, and he'll leave F1 without a title.
