Regardless of beating Lando Norris to McLaren’s first win since 2012 at Monza final yr, Daniel Ricciardo’s time with the Woking outfit hasn’t lived as much as expectations.
Signed on an enormous bumper deal as a alternative for Carlos Sainz, Ricciardo’s underperformance has nearly led to his untimely exit from the group, with Oscar Piastri reportedly lined up as his alternative for 2023, opening up the motive force market.
McLaren are prone to should pay-off Ricciardo for him to go away the group – an eye-watering $21 million (£13.5 million) with a yr to go nonetheless on his contract.
When it comes to the important thing statistics, how dangerous has it been for Ricciardo in 2022 up in opposition to Norris?
Ricciardo v Norris in 2022
Race: 3-10
Qualifying: 2-11
Factors: 19-76
Podiums: 0-1
Finest end: sixth – third
Finest grid place: sixth – 4th
Ricciardo’s poor efficiency is costing McLaren within the constructors’ championship with Alpine at the moment fourth within the pecking order.
Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso have persistently scored factors this season, whereas McLaren are counting on Norris to hold the group.
One obvious stat that reveals how a lot Ricciardo is struggling this yr is taking a look at qualifying sectors versus Norris.
Information from Lights Out Weblog present that within the 13 qualifying classes this yr, Ricciardo has solely set a sooner sector time than Norris on 5 events (34-5 in Norris’ favour).
Comparatively, Alex Albon is 28-8 in opposition to Nicholas Latifi; Valtteri Bottas is 29-10 in opposition to Zhou Guanyu; Sebastian Vettel is 21-9 in comparison with Lance Stroll.
Ricciardo can also be reportedly the fifth-highest earner on the grid – a whopping £12.2 million per yr.
In comparison with the remainder of the grid, Ricciardo is on extra money than Ferrari duo Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc (£9.8m every) and Pink Bull’s Sergio Perez (£8.6m).
Norris’ performances versus Ricciardo additionally earned him a large pay rise – making him the third behind Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on £20 million per yr.
Ricciardo’s performances don’t warrant being probably the greatest paid drivers on the grid.
Little question that his probably alternative – Piastri – will likely be on considerably much less for 2023.