Daniel Ricciardo signs with McLaren in latest big name move in a week

Its official Daniel Ricciardo is headed to McLaren.In one of the worst kept secrets in the world right now, the Western Australian F1 superstar will move to McLaren, into the seat left vacant by Carlos Sainz Jr.
Things move quickly in Formula One after Sebastian Vettel became the first domino to fall, announcing he would be walking away from Ferrari at the end of the 2020 season earlier this week.
Currently sideline due to the coronavirus pandemic, it remains to be seen how many races Vettel has left for the prancing horse.
But after leaving the door open at one of the big three, the seat was hotly contested between Ricciardo and Sainz Jr. with the 25-year-old Spaniard widely tipped to claim the seat, especially after this latest news.
McLaren were trying hard to hold onto Sainz however with a counter offer reported by Spanish newspaper Marca, although the bid appears to have been fruitless.
“Saying no to Ferrari is almost impossible, one of those trains that pass once in a lifetime and that many World Champions have not even been able to taste on long and brilliant journeys,” the report said.
But on Thursday night, the news broke that Ricciardo would join McLaren, who usurped Renault as the best of the rest last season.
It comes less than a week after Renault principal Cyril Abiteboul declared there was more to come from Ricciardo’s “journey” with the team, although Ricciardo had admitted he would keep his options open on developments at other teams.
It comes after Ricciardo finished ninth in the 2019 drivers’ championship, his worst finish since 2013.
Ricciardo will also move over to McLaren and will team up with 20-year-old Lando Norris.
Fans are already salivating over the McLaren line up with the pair already sharing plenty of laughs and proving to be two of the more popular drivers with their antics.
This included a press conference last season when Ricciardo left Norris crying tears of laughter when the 30-year-old Aussie asked him if he had “any pubes yet”.
For Ricciardo’s seat at Renault, former World Champion Fernando Alonso is expected to be offered the seat, or Vettel, although other reports have the German looking for either a Mercedes move or retirement. Both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are both off contract at the end of 2020.
But Racing Point’s Sergio Perez told Motorsport.com that Vettel was “closer to retirement than another team”.
While Ricciardo as long been linked to a move to Ferrari, it appears the dream may be over for the Aussie.
Former F1 star David Coulthard told Fox Sports News that the decision could have come down to personality and pedigree that the decision came down for Ferrari to go with Sainz.
“Carlos is a different personality, maybe not as flamboyant, that’s probably not the right word for Daniel but he’s probably a bit more out there and a bit more creative on social media,” he said. “I think Carlos is a bit more classically professional in his approach, very straight forward, I would have no reason to doubt he was honest.
“Look at the family DNA, his father is an incredible legend of motorsport in his own right and incredibly approachable, but I think they’re a wonderful family. Not that I don’t think Daniel has a wonderful family but if it ends up going Carlos’ route that would be a tremendous opportunity, a huge challenge as well for anyone who’s going to be a teammate to Charles because he’s clearly top drawer.”
Carlos Sainz Sr. is a motorsport legend, having won two World Rally Championship titles.