Ricciardo to race with McLaren in 2021
Thursday 14 May, 2020
Photo: Renualt Sport Media
Motorsport Australia ambassador Daniel Ricciardo will shift teams next year, signing with Formula 1 outfit McLaren on a multi-year deal.
The news comes after four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel confirmed this year would be his last with Ferrari, leaving a coveted seat open at the famous Italian team in 2021 and beyond.
Motorsport Australia CEO Eugene Arocca congratulated Daniel Ricciardo on the news.
“On behalf of everyone at Motorsport Australia, I’d like to congratulate Daniel on his new contract with McLaren,” Arocca said.
“The McLaren Formula 1 Team has a very long and successful history in motorsport at the highest level and we are very much looking forward to seeing an Australian racing for such an iconic racing team.
“As a Motorsport Australia ambassador, Daniel continues to be a superb role model for the next generation and we look forward to working with him further over the coming years.
“Daniel also lends his name to our successful Ricciardo’s Racers junior development program, and I’m sure the many graduates and future participants of Ricciardo’s Racers will be equally excited by today’s news.”
With Ricciardo and McLaren’s current star Carlos Sainz touted as the front runners to claim the vacant seat, Ferrari ultimately signed the 25-year-old Spaniard to play a supporting role for young gun Charles Leclerc.
Sainz’s departure opened the door for Ricciardo to make the switch from Renault after a disappointing debut season for the French team in 2019, which resulted in just 54 points from the 21 races and ending the Drivers’ Championship in ninth. Ricciardo will continue to race with Renault for the remainder of 2020.
The new deal sees Ricciardo join another young Formula 1 star at McLaren in Lando Norris, with the British driver already impressing in his rookie year with 49 points overall.
The switch means Ricciardo will have raced for four Formula 1 teams. The 30-year-old started his career with the junior Red Bull team Toro Rosso in 2010, before joining Red Bull in 2014. He then left Red Bull at the end of 2018 after five years, where he claimed six wins and 19 podiums with the British team before linking up with Renault.
The 2020 Formula 1 season is currently on hold due the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with racing scheduled to resume in Austria on 5 July.