Daniel Ricciardo (left) and world champion Max Verstappen (right) were teammates at Red Bull, now the Australian is just a test driver.Image: AP / Hussein Malla
formula 1
In less than three months it will be time again. The new Formula 1 season starts on March 5th in the Gulf state of Bahrain. For some time now, the racing teams have also announced their cockpit distribution. Some motorsport veterans are no longer there, but various rookies are taking their place.
After Sebastian Vettel ended his career and Mick Schumacher lost his place at Haas, only Nico Hülkenberg remains as the only German driver from a German perspective. A former top manager in Formula 1 has now made harsh allegations against a former colleague from Hülkenberg – who no longer has a permanent seat for the new season.
Ex-manager accused of greed
Former F1 manager Mark Gallagher told GP Racing Magazine that Daniel Ricciardo’s departure came as no surprise to him. According to Gallagher, the Australian opted for big money rather than sporting success in his career.
Daniel Ricciardo had to give up his seat in the McLaren cockpit for the past season.Image: imago/ panoramai C
Daniel Ricciardo drove for McLaren last season and was there inferior to his team-mate Lando Norris in all respectswhich is why the British racing team decided to sign the young Oscar Piastri instead of Ricciardo.
For the coming season he will return to Red Bull, for which he was already in the racing car between 2014 and 2018. Now, however, behind Sergio Pérez and his former colleague and current world champion Max Verstappen – only as a reserve driver. So he can’t hope for too many missions.
Daniel Ricciardo for years with performance decline
In 2018, Ricciardo left Red Bull for Renault. “He cashed in, took the money and went for a big check because he’s not going to win the World Cup”Mark Gallagher explains the Australian’s decision at the time, citing an insider.
Lando Norris (left) achieved better results at McLaren than his team partner Daniel Ricciardo (right).Image: imago/ motosport images
According to Gallagher, Ricciardo knew at the time that Max Verstappen was number 1 at Red Bull, but that he would not win the World Cup at Renault either. However, the then Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul “paid him a lot of money”.
To a certain extent, however, the 33-year-old’s decision was understandable, explains the former team manager: “When you’re approaching 30 and realizing that the World Cup dream is rapidly disappearing, that’s when you take the big bucks. And why not? That’ll cover you forever within a day.”
Ricciardo was never able to achieve great success
After a year at Renault, Ricciardo finally switched to McLaren, his last permanent station for the time being, where, according to Gallagher, he also worked “baited with a big check” would.
Oscar Piastri, 21, will take Ricciardo’s place at McLaren for the upcoming season. Image: imago/motorsport images
Overall, however, the former Formula 1 manager draws a sobering conclusion about the Australian’s career: “He will feel like he never really reached his potential”, Gallagher sums up. “He’ll probably think about that when he gets older. From a purely sporting point of view, there probably would have been teams that would have suited him better.”
It is more than questionable that Ricciardo, with his 33 years and the manageable performances of the last few years, will once again fight for a regular place in Formula 1, but it cannot be ruled out either. In terms of performance, the now 35-year-old Nico Hülkenberg has followed a similar, even worse career path – and will still be in the Haas cockpit in the coming season.
In 2022, Eintrach Frankfurt was extremely successful. Last year was one of the most victorious in the club’s recent history, winning the Europa League title and playing in the Champions League. Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner would like to continue the success next year. The club is courting for its best players.
