It has been boiling for weeks, but the future of Formula 1 star WA Daniel Ricciardo may be on the verge of resolving itself.
Firing Ricciardo in favor of young Oscar Piastri would cost McLaren $ 21 million but, according to multiple reports from the Northern Hemisphere, is a decision that could take days.
Ricciardo will wear the McLaren yellow this week as he seeks to increase his 19 championship points this season when he takes part in the Belgian Grand Prix.
However, he is expected to tackle what the future holds for this race.
For the past few weeks, Duncraig’s affable 33-year-old shooter has enjoyed the sport’s mid-season break in the US, camping out, partying and just doing what Dan likes to do.
In the F1 community he is seen as a funny good guy.
But the results have been normal for Ricciardo practically since he moved to McLaren last year.
Rumors about his dismissal grew when Fernando Alonso announced he would be leaving Alpine for Aston Martin, with the former quickly announcing that Piastri would take his place.
Reports soon surfaced that he and his manager, former Australian F1 star Mark Webber, were observing Ricciardo’s place at McLaren.
Ricciardo’s position was already in question, with teammate Lando Norris overtaking him this season.
The Western Australian could return to Alpine to replace Alonso, where he drove for two seasons in 2019 and 2020 when he was known as Renault.
Former F1 driver and brother of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, Ralf, believes this season will be Ricciardo’s last in the sport.
The six-time winner of the race supported his nephew, Mick, to secure a place ahead of Ricciardo.
“The names are there, in every cockpit. Even Mick (Schumacher) hasn’t signed a contract yet. He would therefore be a candidate. A quick candidate, as you can see, “Schumacher told Sky F1.
“Nico Hülkenberg is also still in the starting blocks. And then there is the question of Daniel Ricciardo.
“Personally, I can’t imagine he will have another chance in Formula 1. But I don’t know who should take Alpine right now.”
At last month’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Ricciardo spoke of his continued love for the sport, saying that “it still drives me crazy”.
“The truth is, the highs you get are so high because there is so much to do,” Ricciardo told SpeedCafe.
“Sure, you take risks, like winning a race for example, you didn’t leave on Sunday; you put everything on the line, the team did it, you pushed your body, mentally and physically.
“So the high and the reward are pretty amazing and pretty spectacular.
“I could probably go on, but there are some things.
“I believe I continue to thrive because I still believe I belong [in Formula 1] and can do it.
“And love for that, plus knowing that any weekend that might be there, like that might be around the corner, you know.
“Monza last year was … you know, a week before in Zandvoort nobody had foreseen it, not even me, so even the idea of a weekend like this could be in a week, it’s pretty cool.”