Daniel Ricciardo is reportedly demanding $21 million from the McLaren F1 team as it seeks to terminate his contract early.
Last year, Daniel Ricciardo joined the McLaren F1 team on a three-year contract, but was rumored to be out of a seat after consistently underperforming compared to team-mate Lando Norris.
Then, Fernando Alonso made a shocking announcement that he would transfer to Aston Martin F1 from 2023, and there was a vacancy in the Alpine F1 team.
The Alpine F1 team has announced that reserve driver Oscar Piastri will be promoted to race driver in 2023, but Piastri has refused. Behind the scenes, the McLaren F1 team is understood to be looking to replace Daniel Ricciardo with reigning F2 champion Oscar Piastri.
The contract between Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren includes a cancellation clause to terminate the contract early, but it is said to be the right of Ricciardo, and if McLaren asks for termination, a penalty will be incurred. Ricciardo has repeatedly declared that he will fulfill his contract for 2023.
However, Andreas Seidl is understood to have personally informed Daniel Ricciardo of his intention to bring Oscar Piastri to the team in his place next year.
Speedcafe.com reports that Daniel Ricciardo is seeking a payment of $21 million as a condition to leave the McLaren F1 team at the end of the 2022 season.
But if Daniel Ricciardo signs a deal with another Formula 1 team in 2023, he will likely have to pay back McLaren the same amount he agreed with that team.
Daniel Ricciardo is rumored to be returning to the Alpine F1 team, then operating under the Renault name, for two seasons, 2019 and 2020.
McLaren will also reportedly cover legal costs involving Oscar Piastri to bring him into the team.
Alpine F1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer said on Monday night that the matter is likely to go to the High Court for a settlement.
If something like this happened, Oscar Piastri’s F1 career could be ruined despite being a highly rated and popular driver.
Category: F1 / Daniel Ricardo / mclaren