Fans all say the same thing about Daniel Ricciardo after another McLaren ‘disaster’

Two races gone and the verdict is already in — Daniel Ricciardo leaving McLaren was a masterstroke.

The 33-year-old was famously sacked last year with a season to run on his contract and replaced by fellow Aussie Oscar Piastri — and so far it looks like the best sacking in history.

McLaren is tied with Alpha Tauri for dead last in the constructors’ standings on zero points after two races and their season is already being written off as a disaster.

Engine failure meant Piastri couldn’t finish his debut in Bahrain, but the rookie impressed in Saudi Arabia, overtaking his teammate Lando Norris in the closing stages.

It was another shocker for McLaren in Jeddah as both drivers were forced to come into the pits by lap 3 to replace their damaged front wings.

Norris has finished 17th in both races, prompting speculation the highly touted Brit could be eyeing a move to Mercedes when Lewis Hamilton retires.

The F1 world declared Ricciardo was the big winner of the season opener in Bahrain and the reaction was very much the same after McLaren finished out of the points once again in Jeddah.

It’s worth remembering he walked away with a reported monster pay-out with some reports claiming the contract termination was worth up to $24 million.

The future looked bright for McLaren when they finished third in the constructors’ championship in 2020, but the former giant of F1 is at a crossroads after slipping down the standings in recent seasons.

McLaren ordered Norris not to make life difficult for Piastri and let him past him, but speaking after the race, Norris said he could have easily kept the rookie at bay if he wanted to.

“I quite easily could have probably kept the position at the end and got past the Williams but I just let him go in the end,” Norris quipped.

“It would be different if I was fighting for points but 16th and 17th, it doesn’t matter to me.”

That somewhat salty comment raised the eyebrows of many, including 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg

“Have you ever heard a racing driver say, ‘Oh I just decided to let my teammate past?’,” Rosberg laughed on Sky Sports.

The telling comment from Norris shows the task Piastri is up against and the challenge of being a team’s No. 2 driver.

McLaren instructing Norris to let Piastri overtake him was an intriguing sight given Ricciardo wasn’t granted that luxury too often during his two seasons at the papaya team.

Sky Sports commentator Karun Chandhok said Piastri staying hot on Norris’ tail and taking it right up to the team’s star driver was a promising sign for McLaren, despite their struggles.

“It was good to see both drivers running close together,” Sky Sports commentator Karun Chandhok said.

“I know they were on different strategies and Lando’s tyres were degrading but Oscar pitted on lap 1 and was managing that set of hard tyres.

“It is good news for McLaren. That side of the garage with (engineer) Tom Stallard have had a pretty tough couple of years with Daniel, trying to get him up to speed. Oscar — second time out, qualified in Q3.”

Ricciardo is Red Bull’s reserve driver this season and will attend his first race of the season at next month’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

He is taking a break from the mental and physical rigours of F1’s 23-race calendar, with his role entailing simulator work and marketing duties at the races he does attend.