Daniel Ricciardo to join McLaren as replacement for Ferrari-bound Carlos Sainz

Heading to McLaren: Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo
AFP/Getty Images
George Flood14 May 2020

Daniel Ricciardo will join McLaren ahead of the 2021 Formula One season, the team confirmed on Thursday.

The Australian is set to leave Renault and partner young Briton Lando Norris on a long-term deal as the replacement for Carlos Sainz, who has sealed a move to become four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel's successor at Ferrari.

Vettel's exit from Maranello at the end of the year was confirmed earlier this week following a breakdown in contract talks, sparking a driver merry-go-round.

"Signing Daniel is another step forward in our long-term plan and will bring an exciting new dimension to the team, alongside Lando," said McLaren CEO Zak Brown. "This is good news for our team, partners and of course our fans.

“I also want to pay tribute to Carlos for the excellent job he has been doing for McLaren in helping our performance recovery plan. He is a real team player and we wish him well for his future beyond McLaren.”

Ricciardo made significant headlines with his decision to leave Red Bull for Renault in 2018, but the partnership ultimately did not prove fruitful, with the seven-time race winner finishing a lowly ninth in the 2019 Drivers' Championship.

Carlos Sainz will join Ferrari in 2021 as the successor to Sebastian Vettel
Getty Images

Renault were beaten to fourth place in the Constructors' Standings by a resurgent McLaren, who will switch from Renault to Mercedes engines in 2021.

Confirmation of Ricciardo's exit will spark plenty of speculation over Renault's next move, with veteran Fernando Alonso linked with a return to F1 and a third stint with the team with whom he won back-to-back world titles in 2005 and 2006.

Esteban Ocon is signed with Renault until the end of 2021, while Vettel will inevitably be linked with the job.

Announcing that contract negotiations with Ricciardo had not been successful, Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul said: "In our sport, and particularly within the current extraordinary situation, reciprocated confidence, unity and commitment are, more than ever, critical values for a works team.

"I am confident that the 2020 season will allow us to accomplish even more together. Our ambitions and the strategy of Renault DP World F1 Team remain unchanged.”

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