Former Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has suggested that McLaren split early from Daniel Ricciardo. His time was “up”.
“Ricciardo is a driver with a very high salary that costs the team a lot of money,” Villeneuve told the Dutch motorsports portal. Formula 1. “He doesn’t score points and he doesn’t have the speed the team needs to develop the car, so it costs them money.”
According to media reports, Ricciardo should earn around 15 million euros a year at McLaren. So far this season, the Australian has only had 11 points compared to teammate Lando Norris’ 48.
“It would be cheaper for McLaren to pay him in full and send him home and have another driver in the car,” said Villeneuve, who became world champion in 1997 in the Williams cockpit. Team boss Zak Brown noted something similar after the Monaco Grand Prix, although Ricciardo’s contract runs until 2023.
Villeneuve said: “Zach Brown is already talking about clauses in his contract, which basically means they’ve already made a decision. Ricciardo’s time at McLaren is over!” This is “a harsh reality, but this is Formula 1.”
“No one criticizes me more than myself,” said Honey Badger himself in the run-up to the Monaco GP. “I don’t want to get around ten and eleven. I still think I can be up front and I belong there. It was a little hard at times to maximize what’s in the car, but we’re working hard on it together. The team wants it, I want it, we’re going to fight through it.” “.
