McLaren boss Zak Brown confirms Daniel Ricciardo future plans amid sack talk

McLaren boss Zak Brown has dismissed suggestions that Daniel Ricciardo won’t see out his contract with the team despite his struggles so far in 2022. Ricciardo, 33, was viewed as a major coup when he signed a three-year deal with the British team ahead of the 2021 campaign, but despite a dramatic race win in Monza, underwhelmed for much of the season.

The Australian eventually finished eighth in the standings on 115 points, noticeably 45 points off teammate Lando Norris. The notion that Norris, 22, was the team’s No 1 driver was cemented further earlier this year when he signed a new multi-million contract that runs until the end of 2025.

And ‘The Honey Badger’s’ struggled have continued into this new era of F1, having only recorded two points finishes in the 10 Grand Prix races so far. Amid budget cuts for all teams, the former Red Bull and Renault man also cost Brown and co thousands in Monaco when he endured a bad crash in practice.

That led Brown, 50, to publicly call out Ricciardo, saying his displays had “generally not kind of met his or our expectations.” Indeed, he lies 14th in the current standings with only 15 points, trailing Norris by 43, leading to rumours his place at McLaren was in jeopardy.

JUST IN: Lando Norris’ car catches fire during Austrian Grand Prix practice