Skeptical About Oscar Piastri’s Debut, Veteran Daniel Ricciardo Shares Words of Wisdom: “I Really Can’t Predict”

The storm that began at Woking trickled to the land down under. McLaren, in an unceremonious way, dumped Daniel Ricciardo in favor of Oscar Piastri before the conclusion of the 2022 season. While the shocking boot to the senior Australian made him make his way back to his early motoring home, Piastri is set to make his debut in less than a month with the Papaya team. However, before the season gets underway, Daniel Ricciardo has something to say.

Ricciardo, who has been an 8x GP winner, had a disappointing career spell over the last four years. While his McLaren contract extended till the end of 2023, an earlier termination sent the F1 world into a frenzy. To add to the poetic injustice, his place was traded with that of another man from his homeland. Oscar Piastri, the hottest property of the silly season, saw two best midfield teams fight over him. Without setting foot in the Formula 1 circus, he has already turned it upside down. However, the surrounding buzz, predictions of pundits and partnership with the brilliant Lando Norris has already piled a lot of pressure on him. The latest one to chime in to give his two cents, or rather not give them, is the man he replaced.

As per Wide World of Sports, Ricciardo said, “It’s a big, big opportunity. There haven’t been many Australians to get this far before, so ultimately, he needs to find that part of it as well where he can just enjoy it.”

He further added, “Obviously, I wish him well, but I really can’t predict or say, ‘Oh, he’ll do this or that’. We’ll wait and see but I hope he finds himself having fun and has a smooth first season.”

Read More: Oscar Piastri Snapped Back to Reality With a Slap of Harsh Lando Norris Truth: “If Things Don’t Go So Well…”

Although the Honey Badger hopes for Piastri to have a smooth season, he is still wary of making any declarations about him.

Why Daniel Ricciardo doesn’t want to give his predictions about Oscar Piastri’s future?

The pressure is on the incoming Australian, who has already become the talk of the town even before his first season in Formula 1. While one team failed to bag him, another iconic one did. He will be racing for McLaren in the upcoming season. Ricciardo, who was replaced by his fellow countryman, doesn’t want to make proclamations about the latter’s future.

He said, “I don’t want to say, ‘Oh, I think he’ll do this or that’ because I don’t know the truth of how he’s going to go but I also don’t want to add any more pressure on him. It’s really just on him to get involved in the sport, build himself up, learn, progress, and also just enjoy it.”

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What do you think the future holds for McLaren’s new driver? Can he become their next champion?