Daniel Ricciardo has dismissed any suggestions that he could lose his McLaren race seat before the end of 2023, when his current contract expires.
Ricciardo’s recent poor form has fueled rumors about his future with the team.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown raised that speculation over the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, saying Ricciardo has failed to live up to expectations and revealing that there is “mechanism” in the contract this will allow McLaren to cut ties soon.
Ricciardo said he took no notice of Brown’s comments and reaffirmed his commitment to the England team.
“We said, we caught up,” Ricciardo said ahead of Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which he won in 2017.
“I think there’s no need to elaborate, sometimes I feel guilty about it, get caught up in the media and don’t always make complete sense and I just love talking!
“Clearness is clear for us going forward, my contract is clear with the team until the end of next year.
“I’m totally committed, I’ve definitely spoken out about it, and obviously now it’s just about showing it and showing these moments and these races that I know I’m capable of achieving. I have the full support of the team and we want to do it together.”
Ricciardo struggled in his first season with McLaren last year before taking a stunning win at the Italian Grand Prix, the team’s first F1 win since late 2012 and the eighth of his career. he.
The Australian, who finished 13th at Monaco last time out when he went on four races without scoring a point, said he has always thrived under pressure.
“I think that’s why I can be talked about finishing 13th, is people know I can be better and I guess that speaks to my results in the past and I guessing me is a motivator that makes people believe in me.
“I wasn’t expecting a great story either when I crossed the line in 13th place. I like the pressure, it’s a good platform to build on and that’s also why I signed up for it. I love it, success after struggle is always sweeter so that’s what I expected.
Ricciardo says it’s unfair that offering him a three-year contract makes him complacent.
“[it does give] a bit of comfort but that comfort shouldn’t be confused with complacency, not at all, and it’s as simple as this – my results, I want them to be better, I know they can be better and I want to enjoy that success with the team. I’m not going to sit back at 13 and be satisfied with that or be complacent about it, not at all. “
