Daniel Ricciardo drops F1 retirement hint as he opens up on McLaren plan

Austrian Grand Prix: Daniel Ricciardo admits he 'struggled'

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Daniel Ricciardo has dropped a huge hint about his potential retirement from Formula One as he opened up on his first year with McLaren and his plan with the team in the near future.

Ricciardo made the switch to McLaren from Renault ahead of the 2021 season, and despite a difficult start, he did go on to secure his team’s first win in nine years after claiming victory at the Italian Grand Prix.

His Monza victory also proved to be the only team one-two of the season as fellow McLaren man Lando Norris finished in second, when their newly formed partnership began to show promise.

There is no doubt the two team-mates find themselves at different ends of their careers.

Norris is one Formula One’s fresher faces and is of the sport’s rising stars, whilst Ricciardo has more than proved his calibre as he heads into his 11th F1 campaign.

And after finding himself heading towards the latter stages of his career, the 32-year-old admitted he intends to stick with McLaren until his retirement.

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He told Auto Motor und Sport: “The reason why I’m not remotely thinking about another team or beyond my future is that I actually won in maybe the hardest year of my career. 

“So my thought is: if I win in a year like that, what does that say about the journey ahead? 

“I am definitely excited and I want to be here, possibly until the end of my career.”

Ricciardo’s plans to finish with McLaren clearly show the Australian has enjoyed his first campaign with the Woking-based setup in 2021.

And whilst he knows he isn’t driving the fastest car on the circuit, the one aspect that is key to his career is enjoying himself, and he certainly does this whilst part of Team McLaren.

Ricciardo continued: “It’s always like that. Don’t get me wrong, I think that’s part of the challenge in Formula 1 and as a driver. 

“You don’t just strive to be fast, you strive to be in the best car. But I am not in the hunt here. 

“Of course, I’ve been around a bit in the last three or four years. Because I like the environment at McLaren so much and I enjoy it so much, I really want to make this project work.

“I want to be here. The surroundings fit as well. I like the brand, I like the road cars. I can say that I really like being part of this company, part of the McLaren family.”

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Whilst the Aussie still sees his immediate future as ‘part of the McLaren family’ and competing on the track, Ricciardo did reveal two potential roles he would be open to when his racing career comes to an end.

He said: “To be honest, I haven’t thought about it [other projects] yet. But you’re right.

“It could actually open a few doors for me after Formula 1, and be another advantage.

“Even as an ambassador for the brand or as a test driver for road cars. But at the moment I have my hands full with Formula One.”

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