“I’m treating the last 8 races like it’s gonna be my last 8”: Daniel Ricciardo admits he’s not optimistic about being in Formula 1 next season

"I'm treating the last 8 races like it's gonna be my last 8": Daniel Ricciardo admits he's not optimistic about being in Formula 1 next season

Daniel Ricciardo admitted that he’s going to treat his last 8 races with McLaren like his last-ever races in Formula 1. 

Ricciardo has had a torrid time since leaving Renault for McLaren in 2021. His move was seen as great on paper and a partnership with Lando Norris excited fans a lot. Things did not go according to plan and Norris has completely outperformed the honey badger over the last year and a half.

2022 has been a nightmare for Ricciardo as it’s arguably his worst F1 season to date. McLaren decided to pull the switch early and announced that Ricciardo won’t be part of the team from 2023 onwards. The former Red Bull driver’s compatriot Oscar Piastri will replace him in Woking.

Ricciardo’s future in F1 as of now is uncertain. Ahead of the Dutch GP in Zandvoort, Ricciardo was speaking to Ziggo Sport about his plans for the remainder of the season and more importantly, for 2023.

The Perth-born driver admitted that he is in touch with a few teams but also accepted the fact that there aren’t a lot of opportunities available.

Also read: Alpine to pay $420,000 to McLaren and Oscar Piastri after losing CRB trial

Daniel Ricciardo is excited for his last eight races with McLaren

Ricciardo’s recent struggles have led to people forgetting how good he can be behind the wheels of an F1 car. The 33-year-old is a eight time race winner, seven of which he won with Red Bull. All of those race wins came at a time when Mercedes were dominating the sport, so his ability can never be questioned.

On top of that, he became McLaren’s first race winner since 2012 last year at Monza. He leaves the Surrey-based outfit knowing that he achieved something with the team, which no driver has in the last decade.

In spite of his racing accolades, the Aussie does not seem confident about remaining in F1. He grimly stated that he is treating his last eight races with McLaren as his last races in F1.

When asked about how he will approach the remainder of the season, he said, “I’m treating, not negatively. But I’m treating the last eight like it’s gonna be my last eight. So, I’m actually excited for all of them.”

Also read: Helmut Marko confirms $1 Million a year driver not in consideration for 2023 AlphaTauri seat

 

Post Edited By: Somin Bhattacharjee
Daniel Ricciardo McLaren

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Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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