Ricciardo's McLaren seat save for now but rumours rumble on

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12 July 2022 by    1 min read
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Jul.12 - McLaren CEO Zak Brown says Daniel Ricciardo will still be with the team in 2023 - but even so, the rumours continue to rumble.

The latest official news is that Indycar driver and Brown's fellow American Colton Herta, who drives for the Andretti team, will test a McLaren in Portugal this week.

"We will be interested to see how he adapts to a Formula 1 car," McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl said of the 22-year-old, whose father Bryan was also an Indycar driver.

Herta came tantalisingly close to making his Formula 1 debut this year as part of Andretti's ultimately failed bid to take over the Sauber team.

"I believed I was going (to F1), and I thought it was almost for sure," he said recently.

Some now believe Herta is a frontrunner to replace struggling Australian Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren next year, with Oscar Piastri's Mark Webber-led management also reportedly eyeing the Woking based team.

Zak Brown, however, denies that all the rumours were triggered by his recent outspoken criticism of Ricciardo's performance, including the admission that there may be "mechanisms" to end his 2023 deal.

"What I said about Daniel's performances did not cause any problems in the team, although it did bring a lot of rumours from the outside," he is quoted by Soy Motor.

"But we have a great relationship with Dan and we are constantly texting one another. He will be with us next year and we will do our best to get him back in shape.

"We know that he is capable of bringing us race wins," Brown added.

"Everything will depend on the car that we give him, but our requirements are extremely clear - to be at the level of Lando Norris."

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2 F1 Fan comments on “Ricciardo's McLaren seat save for now but rumours rumble on”

  1. Gunfighter

    Probably sweeping the factory in the evening but still part of the team!
    Seriously though, 2023 is where we find out if DR has any dignity at all.

    1
  2. Jere Jyrälä

    Herta is ineligible for a super license & is unlikely to become eligible in time for the next season-opener.
    Therefore, he was never an option for this season at Alfa even if the Andretti buyout attempt succeeded & equally a non-option for next season even if Ricciardo & Mclaren ultimately decided about ending their relationship a year early.
    Honoring their contract until its expiration is a mutual intention, so hopefully, speculation stops eventually.


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