1980 F1 World Champion Alan Jones reckons Daniel Ricciardo’s time at McLaren is drawing to a close, unless he improves rapidly.
Jones has become the latest voice to add to the speculation surrounding Ricciardo’s future, with the Australian World Champion saying “contracts don’t mean much” when it comes to teams wanting to drop underperforming drivers.
Ricciardo has scored just 11 of McLaren’s 59 points so far in 2022, with the Australian driver’s performances coming into sharp focus when he failed to finish in the points in Spain – the same day that Lando Norris finished eighth while struggling with feverish tonsillitis.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has recently spoken out about Ricciardo’s struggles, saying he hasn’t met with the team’s expectations, while also revealing that mechanisms are in place to allow him to be removed if the team choose to.
Ricciardo confirmed over the Monaco weekend that he is on a three-year deal with McLaren, taking him to the end of 2023, but Jones believes that this deal means nothing if McLaren decide on a change.
Eddie Jordan on Daniel Ricciardo:
“I think I’d be watching his career path from now on, because I’m not sure how much further he can go.
“Lando is destroying him, mentally, physically and on the track. He needs to shake it up immediately.”
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“[His future at McLaren] is questionable at the moment,” Jones told Australia’s Herald Sun.
“Unless he makes a few improvements – quick smart – I really can’t see him being there for too much longer, to be honest.”
Jones’ thoughts echo those of fellow World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, with the 1997 World Champion far more succinct in his assessment that Ricciardo’s time at McLaren “is over”.
Ricciardo is a hugely popular driver, thanks to his witty good humour and beaming smile – a toothy grin that has appeared more rarely during 2022. Jones believes that…
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