Daniel Ricciardo's words when he first joined McLaren have now rung true with the Australian star set to be released at the end of the 2022 campaign.
After stints with Red Bull and Renault, 'The Honey Badger' joined the British team amid much expectation at the start of 2021, forming a potentially mouth-watering partnership with Lando Norris. But despite leading the youngster home in a famous one-two in Monza, it proved an underwhelming first season for Ricciardo.
He could only finish eighth in the drivers' standings, a place behind is more inexperienced teammate. And the 33-year-old has failed to ignite this season, notching only five top-10 finishes in 18 races.
A damaging crash in practice at the Monaco Grand Prix increased speculation over an early release from his team, with McLaren CEO Zak Brown publicly admitting the driver had not met expectations. And sure enough, in August, Ricciardo himself confirmed the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi would be his last with his current employers.
Not that he ever envisaged a smooth ride with Brown and co anyway. When McLaren launched their cars for the 2021 campaign in February last year, Ricciardo gave a prediction which has now proved accurate.
"We don't have a crystal ball," he told the BBC. "Leaving Red Bull or Renault, it is what I feel is right. Do I know how it will turn out? I don't. But I certainly feel McLaren have done the right things to set themselves up in particular for these rule changes coming in 2022."
However, a bid for a first title since Lewis Hamilton prevailed in 2008 hasn't materialised, with Norris notching the team's only podium finish in Emilia Romagna. Ricciardo will now be replaced by Alpine reserve driver and fellow Australian Oscar Piastri.
Where the Perth-born driver goes next remains to be seen, with widespread reports that he has held talks with Mercedes over potentially replacing Hamilton. He has also been touted to compete in a different motorsport format, having been a long-time admirer of NASCAR racing.
On Sunday morning, he missed out on a points finish in a chaotic Japanese Grand Prix. Having started 11th on the grid, that also proved his finishing position as Max Verstappen sealed a second successive drivers' championship.
