Zak Brown expressed his relief that Daniel Ricciardo found himself a new role in Formula 1 next year, despite making the decision which cut his McLaren career short.
Ricciardo was contracted to the team for one more year after this, having signed a three year deal which began at the start of 2021. But amid his ongoing struggles for results and consistent performances, the team decided a change was needed and they agreed mutually with the Aussie to part company earlier than planned.
The timing of that decision meant there were few race seat options still open to Ricciardo at the time. After being heavily linked with Haas, Williams and even a return to Alpine – the team he left in 2020 – he eventually decided to take the risk of dropping off the grid in the hope a better option comes along in the future.
Now aged 33, he will spend 2023 back with Red Bull as a reserve and promotional driver. As well as providing support to Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez at some race weekends, he will also take part in filming days to assist with the team's marketing – all the while waiting to see what chances arise for 2024.
Referring to that move, McLaren chief executive Brown admitted he was glad to see Ricciardo had found himself a role which means he can remain close to the paddock. He said: "I think it's good to have Daniel in Formula 1, regardless of what team it is. It's a positive and most importantly, I hope we see him in a Formula 1 car."
Riccardo's personal struggles contributed to an overall underwhelming season for McLaren this year. Their cars were very inconsistent – Lando Norris managed seventh in the drivers' standings, but even that wasn't enough to stop his team from losing to rivals Alpine in the battle for fourth place in the constructors'.
On the plus side, Norris was the only driver not racing in a Red Bull, Ferrari or Mercedes car to achieve a podium finish in 2022. And he will be the senior of the team's two drivers next season as he looks to strike a partnership with F2 champion Oscar Piastri, making his debut in the top category.
The team's up-and-down 2022 will no doubt be a reminder that nothing is guaranteed in F1, but still Brown has an optimistic outlook when he assesses McLaren's current situation. "Lots of learning, lots of ups and downs. Not as competitive as we were last year, but I think we're a better racing team this year," he said of this year.
"We're operationally more sound. Our pit stops are better. We've got our investments that are nearing completion. So I think we've learned a lot. New regulations, and excited for next year and to see Oscar in the car."
