• Login
  • Register
Speedcafe.com
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODCASTS
  • PHOTOS
  • CALENDAR
  • RESULTS & STANDINGS
  • NETWORK
No Result
View All Result
  • Supercars
  • F1
  • NASCAR
  • INDYCAR
  • SRO GT
  • KARTING
  • RALLY
  • BIKES
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODCASTS
  • PHOTOS
  • CALENDAR
  • RESULTS & STANDINGS
  • NETWORK
No Result
View All Result
  • Feed
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Photos
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
Speedcafe.com
  • Supercars
  • F1
  • NASCAR
  • IndyCar
  • SRO GT
  • Karting
  • Rally
  • Bikes
  • FastDeli Club
Home F1

Brown: McLaren Ricciardo ‘divorce made no-one happy’

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has conceded that Daniel Ricciardo's "divorce" from the team made nobody happy but he is delighted to see the Australian back on the F1 grid.

Ian Parkes
Ian Parkes
1 Jan 2024
Ian Parkes
//
1 Jan 2024
// F1
A A
5
Brown: McLaren Ricciardo ‘divorce made no-one happy’
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has been delighted to see Daniel Ricciardo back on the F1 grid after his 'divorce' from the team. Image: James Moy/XPB

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has been delighted to see Daniel Ricciardo back on the F1 grid after his 'divorce' from the team

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has been delighted to see Daniel Ricciardo back in F1 after his ‘divorce’ from the team. Image: James Moy/XPB

McLaren and Ricciardo parted ways just over 12 months ago, with a season remaining on his three-year deal following two predominantly difficult campaigns with the team bar a stand-out Italian Grand Prix win in 2021.

It was not what either McLaren or the 34-year-old anticipated when he signed up, only for the partnership to dissolve as the team was unable to marry its car to the driving style of Ricciardo, who was forced to attempt changes that did not work, and left him doubting whether he had lost his way.

Red Bull quickly recruited Ricciardo, initially as a third driver, as well as utilising him for promotional and marketing activities, before a tyre test at Silverstone in early July helped thrust him back into F1 with AlphaTauri at the expense of Nyck de Vries.

Ricciardo’s season was disrupted after breaking a bone in his left hand during a crash in practice for the Dutch GP, ruling him out of five races before returning for the final handful of events.

Brown insists there was never any lingering animosity towards Ricciardo over his departure and the fact it did not work out between him and the team.

“I’m very happy Daniel’s back in Formula 1,” said Brown, speaking to selected media, including Speedcafe.

“Daniel has always been great to work with, always been a great friend. It was never a divorce that made anybody happy.

“So I’m very happy he’s back on the grid. We still exchange notes on a somewhat regular basis, so I’m very happy we’ve ended up maintaining a good relationship.”

Following Ricciardo’s exit, the recruitment of Oscar Piastri is viewed as a piece of the wider McLaren puzzle.

There was a change in leadership as Andreas Seidl was replaced as team principal by Andrea Stella, who immediately overhauled the technical department.

In the middle of the year, a new state-of-the-art wind tunnel went online, with its effects likely to be viewed with next year’s car.

McLaren’s improvement with its MCL60 this year means over the final 14 grands prix after the introduction of upgrades in Austria, the team and Lando Norris would have finished second in the constructors’ and drivers’ championship if the season had started at that point.

Brown could not be happier with the way McLaren is taking shape and the platform it has built going into 2024.

“We have the team,” said Brown, “and I think we have the resources and the technology.

“We now just need to continue to push forward with the performance and the culture. The pitstops are great because I think they illustrate how well the team is working together.

“So we just have to get that pitstop culture in every single part of the racing team, and I think we’re there.”

Offering a different take on where he feels McLaren is at, he added: “Andrea has this world championship material terminology that he uses in a pie chart.

“It started at half green, a quarter amber, and a quarter red, and the green is now at 75 percent, with the amber and the red reduced.

“I think we just need a little bit more time to get it to all green.”

Tags: alphatauriandreas seidlnyck de vrieszak brown

Discussion about this post

Latest from Torquecafe

These are the best of Ford Australia

03 April 2025

Two famous brands will now sell you a race car

03 April 2025

Ford Australia turns 100

02 April 2025

No joke: Hyundai teases return of the ‘baby hot hatch’

02 April 2025

Latest Podcasts

PODCAST: Supercars parity changes explained + Doohan exit verdict

09 May 2025

PODCAST: Grassroots Racing with Ben Schoots

08 May 2025

Related Articles

The FIA president has shared concerns he has with the cost cap regulations in place in Formula 1. Image: XPB Images.

FIA president questions need for F1 cost cap

F1
2 hours ago
F1
1
A university thesis may have uncovered the secret McLaren is using to gain a performance advantage on the field. Image: XPB Images.

Has a university thesis revealed McLaren’s F1 secret?

F1
4 hours ago
F1
1

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Platinum Partner

Latest & Trending News

Nash Morris celebrates with father Paul, grandfather Terry and friend Brodie Kostecki. Image: Matt Christie / Network R

How leaving family team made Nash Morris a winner

Super2
13 May 2025
Super2
0
The FIA president has shared concerns he has with the cost cap regulations in place in Formula 1. Image: XPB Images.

FIA president questions need for F1 cost cap

F1
13 May 2025
F1
1
Will Power during the Indianapolis Grand Prix. Image: James Black

Power proposes radical ‘lock out’ rule for IndyCar

IndyCar
13 May 2025
IndyCar
4
James Courtney leads WAU's Ryan Wood. Image: Supplied

BRT credits WAU for Tassie turnaround

Supercars
13 May 2025
Supercars
0
Just 11 drivers presented for the KZ Final, four finishing amid the tyre spat. Image: COTF Livestream

Europe’s best karters sensationally boycott event after tyre drama

Karting
13 May 2025
Karting
1
A university thesis may have uncovered the secret McLaren is using to gain a performance advantage on the field. Image: XPB Images.

Has a university thesis revealed McLaren’s F1 secret?

F1
13 May 2025
F1
1
Pirtek Poll

POLL: Will Toyota win a Supercars race in 2026?

Vote View Results Past polls
Pirtek Poll
View past polls

Supercars Championship

Pos Driver Points
1 Will Brown 467
2 Cameron Waters 460
3 Broc Feeney 418
4 Chaz Mostert 333

CLICK HERE for full results and standings

Formula 1

1 Lando Norris 62
2 Max Verstappen 61
3 Oscar Piastri 49
4 George Russell 45
5 Kimi Antonelli 30

CLICK HERE for full results and standings

Also, full results and standings for;

TCR Super2 MotoGP IndyCar
[instagram-feed feed=2]
Support the partners that support Speedcafe
Truck Assist R & J Batteries Pirtek Mobil Super Supercheap Auto Michelin Meguiars coates XPEL FORD ACDelco parcelprotect become a partner
AASA PPQ Authentic Collectables bathurst sportsnetholidays nuevasolutions
Speedcafe.com has been established to provide a daily motorsport news service to the industry and fans in Australia and internationally.
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

XPEL

ACDELCO

Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily newsletter, the best way to get your news first, fast and free!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Your daily racing fix - Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily and breaking newsletter for all the latest news delivered direct to your box

SUBSCRIBE
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

XPEL

ACDELCO

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Our Team    /  Advertise with us  /  Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • SHOP
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Speedcafe Network
  • FastDeli Club

Copyright © 2023 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • SHOP
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Speedcafe Network
  • FastDeli Club

Copyright © 2023 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.