Daniel Ricciardo has been struggling to get to grips with his MCL36. Often getting out-qualified by his younger teammate, Lando Norris, there have been questions regarding his future at McLaren. There have been plenty of rumors that the team might replace him next season. However, the McLaren boss has now spoken about such rumors and defended the Australian driver. 

Ricciardo to continue with McLaren through 2023

Speaking to the media, Andreas Seidl stressed that McLaren is committed to the Australian through 2023. He pointed out that they plan on honoring the contract Ricciardo signed in 2020. “Formula 1 is a team sport and it doesn’t matter to me whether it’s mechanics, engineers or the driver,” Seidl said. “It’s important that we have a culture within the team where internally we are very clear about things that we need to improve.”

 “It is very clear that it is my job as team boss to protect the team from the outside world. In the last 20 years, I have not seen a driver become faster because he was publicly criticised. We have a contract with Daniel for next year and that’s why we’re all staying calm, keeping working hard and trying to find those percentages that he is missing at the moment. And then we look forward to better results with him again.”

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This is not the first time Andreas has spoken in support of Daniel Ricciardo. Seidl has said earlier that the Honeybadger is indeed the right material; and with the right car, the right team can win races. 

McLaren Face Immense Backlash as Daniel Ricciardo Fans Fume Over Questionable Azerbaijan GP F1 Team Orders

The German concluded that it was indeed challenging for Daniel when he shifted teams over the winter. Even though he had a horrid first half in the 2021 season, Ricciardo bounced back in the second half to win a race in Monza. 

Daniel Ricciardo discusses team-radio drama amidst point scoring weekend

During the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, there was a lot of radio communication between Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo. At the start of the race, it was Ricciardo who gave the hurry up to Norris. But the pitstop after the Virtual Safety Car on lap thirty-three meant that the roles were reversed.  In the end, it was Norris who tried to put the pressure on his teammate but ultimately backed off due to team orders. 

“I mean at the beginning of course I was feeling like I could attack and obviously wanted to, but had to obviously obey and control myself,” Daniel told Sky Sports F1. 

“But these are things also we talk about before the race so it’s not a shock or a surprise. But then yeah, I think with two or three laps to go, I was told that we were going to hold position. So I guess the let’s say the favour got returned.” 

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The Australian concluded that there would be conversations in the team but he was happy with the result. Daniel currently sits thirteenth in the driver standings and will be looking to improve in Canada.