McLaren does not blame Ricciardo for missing out on 4th place

McLaren managed to get just one podium finish this season, Lando Norris at Imola many months ago. Moreover, the team finished the year in fifth place in the constructors' championship, behind Alpine. Daniel Ricciardo's failure to produce structural results has cost McLaren a better place in the final standings and thus a lot of prize money.

Norris captured 122 points last season, while teammate Ricciardo only had 37. Had the Australian scored just half as many points as Norris, they would have stayed ahaead of Alpine. Yet McLaren's team management does not want to point the finger at Ricciardo, who seemed to be struggling with his car all year.

Responsibility

Team boss Andreas Seidl reveals to Autosport that McLaren is 'far away' from blaming Ricciardo. He points out that Formula 1 is a team sport, which involves cooperation between team members and the driver. "In the end I'm aware as well about my responsibility, the team's responsibility not to get it to work together with Daniel in the way we were hoping for, despite the great commitment that was taken on Daniel's side and on ours," Seidl said.

Nevertheless, McLaren decided to say goodbye to Ricciardo, who will be replaced by Oscar Piastri next year. That he failed to finish higher in the standings this season is part of sport, according to Seidl. Next year - with a new driver behind the wheel - McLaren will try to improve, the team boss said.