It’s no secret that Daniel Ricciardo has struggled at McLaren. Often, in 2022, the Honey Badger would put on a brave face and wear his trademark smile to mask the problems he’s faced with the MCL36. However, after the 2022 US Grand Prix, we might have finally seen a broken Daniel Ricciardo.

Ricciardo has always been honest and upfront about how the partnership hasn’t been successful with McLaren. Not once has he outright blamed the team. But after the race in Austin, due to his relatively shocking pace deficit and inconsistent lap times, he could not reconcile that this was down to just him not doing well as compared to his teammate Lando Norris in equal machinery.

While speaking post-race in the media pen, the Honey Badger first summed his whole 2022 experience up with McLaren and the car. “I simply can’t lean on it, can’t push, can’t get the time out of it.”

In the past, he’s taken the blame for probably not being 100% in tune with the car, however, this time he was having none of it. He said, “It really is a struggle but to have such a big margin again…it remains a mystery.”

Ricciardo left F1’s Lawrence Barretto with these haunting words, “When you think it can’t get worse, it does. That’s where I don’t know how I’m continuing to continue because… painful is an understatement.”

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Daniel Ricciardo most probably won’t be on the F1 grid in 2023. However, when he was asked about him plying his trade in the interim in IndyCar while he sorts out a Formula 1 seat for 2024, he vehemently binned that idea.

“F*ck that” – Daniel Ricciardo firmly shuts the door on IndyCar career

For a racing driver, a year out on the sidelines could most probably mean the end. Hence, we see so many F1 hopefuls plying their trade in other racing series and categories to keep the momentum going and catch a few eyes along the way. But that’s not our Daniel Ricciardo.

While talking about his 2023 and 2024 F1 chances, he was asked whether he would consider a year in IndyCar racing Ovals. To which he said, “F**k that. Ovals scare me.”

However, he went on to explain his response a bit more. “My Formula 1 career-slash-ambition is not over, so that’s really like first and foremost. I don’t want to deviate, I would say primarily for that reason. But also ovals, nah.”

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Will we see Daniel Ricciardo back in Formula 1?