Daniel Ricciardo’s career both in Formula 1 and with the McLaren F1 Team looks to be becoming even more uncertain.
The Australian has failed to take a step forward this season, following his first year with the team in 2021.
2021 was underwhelming for Ricciardo on the whole, excluding his incredible victory at the Italian Grand Prix.
So far this season Ricciardo has finished in the top ten once, whereas team-mate Lando Norris has done so on five occasions; Norris also finished on the podium at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Despite Ricciardo being contracted at McLaren till the end of 2023, tensions are clearly building in the British team.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown added fuel to the fire after telling the media that the Australian had “not met expectations”.
Brown also made it known that Ricciardo’s contract can be ended early, with “mechanisms” in place to do so.
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Should Ricciardo be fired by the team, McLaren have two IndyCar stars ready to battle it out for the seat.
Colton Herta and Pato O’Ward are both high on McLaren’s wishlist, the duo are set to test for the team in FP1 later in the year.
Ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher told Sky Germany that the rumours are “getting louder” at the team.
“At McLaren, there are one or the other rumours,” began Schumacher.
“The rumours, as well as the statements in the team, are getting louder. He’s just too far away from his team-mate.
“I’m curious how the future looks for him. It will be quite difficult for him.”
Ricciardo made life even more difficult for himself on Friday, after crashing heavily in FP2 at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Schumacher is certain that the crash would’ve affected the 32-year-old “mentally”.
“If an accident like that happens to him, it will affect him mentally,” the ex-F1 racer added.
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With Herta and O’Ward in the background at McLaren, the pressure on Ricciardo to deliver will continue to build.
According to Mick Schumacher’s uncle, the Honey Badger has until “August or September” to turn his season around.
“If it stays the way it is now, I don’t see him at McLaren next year,” continued the German.
“A lot is happening now. It will really start in August or September at the latest.”