Daniel Ricciardo will ditch McLaren for Alpine next season after Oscar Piastri’s snide remark facilitates exit route

The retirement of Sebastian Vettel and the subsequent announcement of Fernando Alonso replacing him at Aston martin next season has got the entire F1 paddock buzzing.

However, there have been significant implications in the process, none more so than in the case of Oscar Piastri.

The Australian rookie may soon find himself in a legal tussle with Alpine after he quashed the team’s social media post confirming his presence in the team as a full-time driver next season.

Currently, he is a reserve driver for Alpine.

It has been rumoured that Piastri’s decision to turn his back on Alpine comes amidst talks with McLaren, where he is eyeing his countryman Daniel Ricciardo’s seat.

French publication AutoHebdo has supported this argument, claiming that Ricciardo will make the move to Alpine at the end of the season on the back of a disappointing tenure with McLaren.

This looks like a far cry from what Ricciardo most recently said though, with the former Red Bull driver reiterating his commitment towards McLaren in a social media post.

“I’m committed to McLaren until the end of next year and am not walking away from the sport,” he wrote.

“Appreciate it hasn’t always been easy, but who wants easy?!”

It has been a far from enjoyable experience for Ricciardo at McLaren.

While last year he could be excused for just settling into a new team, he has found himself completely off the pace compared to teammate Lando Norris this season as well.

Ricciardo cuts a frustrated figure at McLaren

Daniel Ricciardo. Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Daniel Ricciardo. Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Speaking about the difficulties he encountered at the Hungarian Gp recently, Ricciardo harped on the sensitivity of his car.

“I think today with the wind, these cars are so sensitive, that probably does make it more hard to find that consistency,” he said.

“When it’s on more of a knife-edge, when there’s more variables, that’s where it starts to become that step more difficult.”

Wherever Ricciardo does end up lining up next season, he will hope his experience is more fruitful than has been the case in recent years.

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