McLaren’s next Formula 1 driver, Oscar Piastri, has revealed that fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who ended up stealing the seat, contacted him and told him he had no hard feelings.
Oscar Piastri was caught in a tug-of-war after Alpine and McLaren announced they would be driving in 2023. Alpine, which has nurtured the 21-year-old Piastri through the junior formula, had hoped to install him in Williams the next year, but was soon replaced by Esteban Ocon Piastri as teammate following the sudden departure of Fernando Alonso.
Meanwhile, McLaren had signed Piastri to replace the underperforming Daniel Ricciardo. The matter went to court and McLaren won.
Moving on, Daniel Ricciardo ended his contract with McLaren a year early. Eight-time race winner Ricciardo has yet to find a seat. However, Ricardo did not turn his anger on Piastri and personally contacted his younger children to talk.
“It was great to hear from Daniel,” Oscar Piastri told the In the Fast Lane podcast.
“I was going to call him myself, but the timing was that he was racing and, to be honest, I wasn’t sure if he wanted me to call him. I was I was thinking what to say, I didn’t know what to do.”
“Daniel is a true professional. My respect for him was already very high and the way he handled it made it even higher.”
Oscar Piastri said that the fact that Daniel Ricciardo, a much-loved driver among paddocks and F1 fans, reached out and made it clear that he was not having a hard time made things easier for him, he said.
“It was great for me personally that he contacted me like that,” added Oscar Piastri.
“Knowing that I didn’t feel bad helped me a lot. It was a great moment.”
“To come close to simulating the success he has on track, the character off track, I think I’m doing a reasonable job.”
Category: F1 / Oscar Piastri / mclaren / Daniel Ricardo
