McLaren confirms Ricciardo for 2021!
McLaren Racing has announced that it has agreed a multi-year deal with Daniel Ricciardo to race for the team from 2021.
Ricciardo, who left Red Bull Racing at the end of 2018 to move to Renault, will thus conclude his two-year stint with the French outfit.
The 30-year-old had come close to signing with McLaren for 2019 but had opted instead for the lucrative deal provided by Renault.
"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."
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Andreas Seidl, Team Principal, McLaren F1, commented:
"Daniel is a proven race-winner and his experience, commitment and energy will be a valuable addition to McLaren and our mission to return to the front of the field.
"With Daniel and Lando as teammates, I believe we have two racers who will continue to excite our fans and help the team grow.
"Carlos is a true professional, a pleasure to work with and we will continue to enjoy going racing with him this year.
"We all wish him good luck for the next stage in his career when he leaves McLaren."
Over at Renault, team boss Cyril Abiteboul is confident that the manufacturer's collaboration with Ricciardo will continue unaffected for the remainder of the year.
"Within the unprecedented context of the 2020 season, discussions held with Daniel Ricciardo concerning a renewal of his contract beyond the end of 2020 have not been successful," stated Renault in its release on Thursday.
"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," added Abiteboul.
"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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