Ricciardo joins McLaren in 2021

As soon as he arrived, he left. Recruited at a high price by Renault in 2018, Daniel Ricciardo will ride under the colors McLaren from next season. 

BREAKING: Daniel Ricciardo to join McLaren in 2021#F1 pic.twitter.com/CckaoJX4DX

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 14, 2020

A time anticipated as the replacement of Sebastian Vettel in Ferrari, the Australian will finally take over Carlos Sainz in Woking as part of a multi-year contract. Contacts between Ricciardo and McLaren are not new since the British team had already approached the former Red Bull driver two years ago, the Perth native finally decided to take the Renault gamble with a two-year contract. 

The Australian then explained that the project presented by the leaders of Losange had convinced him, particularly with a view to the 2021 technical revolution. Ricciardo then hoped to “make a Hamilton », namely joining a factory team as an undisputed leader, building a team around him, and taking advantage of a change in regulations to find the forefront. 

The first season of collaboration was marked by some great performances (Canada, Italy) but also and above all by its share of frustrations. In this story, Renault has its share of responsibility – precarious engine reliability at the start of the year, chassis not up to standard – but Ricciardo is not exempt from all reproaches… 

It was not Renault which smashed its front wing at the start of the first Grand Prix of the season in Melbourne; it was not Renault which reversed course either and crashed Daniil Kvyat's Toro Rosso in Baku... 

The almost hasty departure of Ricciardo certainly remains a snub for Renault and some may conclude, either that the French project does not hold water, or that the French manufacturer does not intend to remain in Formula 1. The recent discussions that we had with the Losange suggest that the second option is to be excluded.

We can also question the Australian's motivations. Certainly McLaren has launched a positive dynamic under the leadership of the uncompromising and efficient Andreas Seidl; certainly, the team will have an engine from next year Mercedes reliable and powerful; but Woking is not yet at the level of the top teams. Just like Renault, you will rightly tell us, but the Losange has the advantage of being a manufacturer team in its own right where McLaren will remain a client structure with the glass ceiling which accompanies it almost de facto (which we may regret naturally).

Time will tell if Ricciardo, 171 GP starts for 29 podiums, 7 victories, and 3 pole positions, was right.