Daniel Ricciardo has addressed his fans after it was confirmed the Australian will leave McLaren at the end of the 2022 Formula 1 season.
The 33-year-old has been open regarding his plans to remain in F1, with Alpine linked as one of the more realistic options if that's to be the case. And Ricciardo assured his social media supporters "this isn't it for me" despite reaching the end of his journey with McLaren.
“Obviously we put in a lot of effort on both sides but just hasn’t worked the way we wanted," he said in a video posted on Twitter and Instagram. “So the team decided to make a change for next year, we had a lot of discussions but in the end we mutually agreed that it was the right thing for both of us.
“I will continue to do the rest of the year, absolutely, and continue to give it my all. So that’s that. I think for the future, what lies ahead, not sure yet. Not sure yet, but we’ll see.”
The Australian counted his 2021 victory at Monza—McLaren's first win since 2012—as one of his "many happy memories" with the team. Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri has been touted as a potential successor in Ricciardo's seat, though his current employers and Williams are also in the hunt.
“You know I look back on this time with McLaren, I look back with a smile,” he continued. “I learnt a lot about myself, I think things that will help me for the next step of my career but I think just in general in life.
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“I think too, from a results point of view, for sure, like to consistently get the results and that form that I was after, wasn’t always there and made some weekends tough. I felt those absolutely."
Ricciardo currently sits 12th in the drivers' standings having accrued just 19 points after 13 races this season. Team principal Andreas Seidl insisted the former Red Bull and Renault driver "just never felt fully comfortable" in a McLaren car.
Despite any tensions caused by the divide, CEO Zak Brown had only good things to say about the Australian after his impending exit was confirmed. The American said Ricciardo had a big hand in developing the talents of team-mate Lando Norris, praising his "positive outlook" and "fantastic work ethic" he brought to the factory floor.
The CEO also confirmed he and Ricciardo "spoke about" the prospect of him remaining in the McLaren family by moving to one of its IndyCar properties. However, the 12-year F1 figure maintains a "real desire to stay in F1" rather than move to another promotion.
Brown said on a conference call that Ricciardo was "as disappointed as we are" but understood why the two parties had to part ways. "We hope he lands in a good race car next year and we see Daniel back to the form we know he's very capable of," added the McLaren boss.
Ricciardo, 33, joined McLaren ahead of the 2021 F1 season and celebrated a single race victory in orange, winning Italian Grand Prix at Monza last year. Both Brown and Seidl referenced that as their highlight from Ricciardo's time in Woking, with the latter commenting he'd be "grateful to Daniel for the rest of his life" thanks to that memory.
