Daniel Ricciardo Drops Massive Eight-Figure Demand On McLaren Amid Potential Exit

Daniel Ricciardo and his days in F1 seem to be numbered as the Australian looks for an eye-catching compensation before he potentially leaves the sport. The move comes after reports said that McLaren looks to replace Ricciardo with F2 Champion Oscar Piastri for next season.

Being possibly replaced by the fellow Australian, Daniel Ricciardo expects to be paid a big amount as he had a contract with the British team until 2023. According to the clause in the contract, only Ricciardo was allowed to break it.

According to Speedcafe.com, the 33-year-old is seeking $21 million as compensation due to his early termination from the McLaren F1 team. A payout to the Australian would allow McLaren to sign a new driver for the next season unless they choose to retain Ricciardo.

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The F1 world turned upside down when Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement from the sport. The seat vacated by Vettel saw Alonso take the chance and go to Aston Martin for his next venture. This left Alpine with a driver short for the next season until they announced an invalid Oscar Piastri move.

McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo rift

Daniel Ricciardo joined McLaren from Renault with high expectations after replacing Carlos Sainz in 2021. The Woking-based team brought in the talented Australian to have a go at the top-tier fights with Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari.

The 2021 season was so far so good for both parties. However, in 2022, things didn’t look good for Ricciardo and McLaren’s partnership, as the 33-year-old found it hard to bring in good results. A dip in performance saw the former Red Bull driver fall short of the expectation and his teammate Lando Norris’s consistent points finish did not help.

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Daniel Ricciardo’s overall performance also took a toll as he failed to pick up any podium or top-five finish in all the 13 races he took part in this year. The honey badger’s finest finish was P6 in his home race in Melbourne. Till now, he has amassed a total of 19 points, and is placed in P12 in the driver’s championship.