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McLaren CEO Zak Brown has suggested Daniel Ricciardo was taken aback by his resignation from the F1 team, saying the decision was the hardest he’s had to make in his motorsport career.
Ricciardo, who finished 11th in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on Sunday, will likely be out of drive in 2023 and at 33, his F1 career may have come to an end rather than just ‘taking a break’ as he had said. .
The eight-time Grand Prix winner was under contract with McLaren until the end of the 2023 campaign, but after two disappointing seasons, the team chose to split up earlier than planned.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown (pictured at the Canadian GP) is candid about Daniel Ricciardo’s sacking, saying it was the hardest thing he’s had to do in motorsport and he’s still a big fan of the Aussie
The McLaren boss also disputed the idea that Ricciardo was shocked by the team’s hiring of Australian compatriot Oscar Piastri.
“We were transparent throughout the process and I know there was massive speculation in the media when it happened, how it happened,” Brown said.
“Daniel and I know what really happened and I think that’s why we still have a strong relationship.
“It was all transparent, well communicated and sometimes we can tell people what’s going on and other times we just can’t.”
Brown said McLaren was doing everything it could to help Ricciardo (pictured at the Spanish GP), but his on-track results gave them no choice but to terminate the contract.
In an interview with Kayo Sports, Brown said McLaren was doing everything it could to help the Aussie turn its form, but his on-track results left them with no choice but to terminate the contract.
“In the end we didn’t get the results we needed and we’ve been working on this for a year and a half,” Brown told Fox Motorsport presenter Jess Yates at the Bathurst 1000.
“We have all worked very hard, we love Daniel, he is great to work with and continues to be great to work with.
“But we’re in the results business and the results didn’t come and we felt like we had tried everything.
‘We don’t know exactly why it didn’t click, it’s really nobody’s fault. We tried our best. He did his best… we just ran out of things to try.’
Brown says all sides tried their best but it just didn’t click and Ricciardo (pictured at the Japanese GP) had to go
Ricciardo will leave the Woking team at the end of the season to be replaced by Piastri, but remains optimistic about returning to an F1 racing seat in 2024.
“I was trying to get a hold of Daniel before he went to Renault, so this was years in the making. I am a big Daniel fan. I am still a huge Daniel fan and that will never change.
“I asked him if he wanted to drive for us in IndyCar or Formula E…I would love to keep Daniel in the family, but he is still very focused on Formula 1, which I understand, it’s the pinnacle of Motorsport. I would love to race with him again.
“It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve been through in my time in motorsport, it wasn’t pleasant, it wasn’t fun.
Brown says he and the West Aussie still have a strong relationship
“But it’s my job, along with Andreas (Seidl), to make the tough decisions and since we didn’t really see any progress I thought, ‘Well, I think we just need to make a change for both of us and hopefully he’ll bring him in the situation where he can be competitive again and in a Formula 1 car wherever he ends up’, but (it was) a huge disappointment.’
Daniel Ricciardo (pictured during the Japanese GP) has stated that he will not have a seat in F1 in 2023, but says he remains focused on returning to Formula 1 in 2024.
Earlier this week, Nick Thimm, Ricciardo’s manager, insisted that the Aussie’s exit from F1 at the end of the season was not about unfeasible demands or a lack of opportunities, but “a man getting a bad hand.” ‘.
The honey badger will still be as close to the F1 grid as possible in 2023. He’s not ready yet. And as we have seen this season, anything can happen,” said Thimm.
The F1 season moves to the US for the United States Grand Prix on Monday, October 24.