Villeneuve thinks last hour has struck for Ricciardo at McLaren

Daniel Ricciardo had expected much more from 2022. The Australian has not yet got the rhythm and that is causing his position at McLaren to gradually come under pressure. Ricciardo will have to beat Lando Norris a few times this season, or at least get closer on a structural basis. Jacques Villeneuve sees that too.

Ricciardo is an absolute big earner at the racing stable from Woking. The driver from Perth was taken over with a lot of fuss from Renault and of course, a suitable contract goes with that. So far this season he has scored fewer points in seven Grands Prix than he earns in millions on an annual basis, namely only eleven points.

That Ricciardo's credit is starting to run out a bit at McLaren is evident from the words of CEO Zak Brown. The current number eleven in the world championship still has a contract until 2023, but the American boss stated that McLaren had"certain mechanisms" by which the deal could be torn up.

Villeneuve adamant

Villeneuve tells Formula1.co.uk that Brown's statements mean that a decision has already almost been made. In this way, according to the Canadian, McLaren is trying to increase the pressure on its driver and prepare the media for what is to come. "Ricciardo's time is up at McLaren (...) It would be cheaper to continue paying Ricciardo's salary, leave him at home on the sofa and put another driver in the car. It's the harsh reality, but that's Formula 1."

Indeed, the 1996 world champion argues that Ricciardo is now mainly costing the team a lot of money, without the team getting anything in return. He brings in no points and also does not have the speed that the team from Woking needs to develop the car. The developments at McLaren are grist to the mill for Pierre Gasly.

Gasly dependent on Ricciardo

The Frenchman of AlphaTauri hoped for a return to the great Red Bull Racing, but Helmut Marko and Christian Horner preferred a contract extension for Sergio Perez. Gasly himself has indicated several times that he wants a step up and McLaren could be that step. For 2023, all the other teams in better shape than AlphaTauri are already provided for and so Gasly will have to hope for an exit from Ricciardo.