McLaren: Ricciardo vulnerable to 'contract mechanisms' for 2023

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McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown says Daniel Ricciardo isn't guaranteed a seat with the team for 2023, insisting the Aussie's contract includes "mechanisms" that allow for a conditional early termination.

Speculation over Ricciardo's F1 future ramped up last week when Brown admitted that his driver's results had fallen short of McLaren's expectations.

But in Monaco, the Ricciardo said that he was committed to his three-year contract with the Woking-based outfit that runs until the end of 2023.

However, while not disclosing any specific clauses in the Aussie's covenant, Brown revealed that the latter did include certain "mechanisms" that allow both parties to terminate the deal before its term.

Read also: Ricciardo confirms McLaren contract term amid speculation

“I don’t want to get into the contract, but there are mechanisms in which we’re committed to each other, and mechanisms in which we’re not," said Brown, quoted by Motorsport.com and speaking in Indianapolis ahead of this weekend's Indy 500.

"I spoke with Daniel about it. We’re not getting the results that we both hoped for, but we’re both going to continue to push.

"I think he showed in Monza [last year] he can win races. We also need to develop our race car, it’s not capable of winning races. But we’d like to see him further up the grid.

"And we’ll see how things develop and what he wants to do. And then we’ve got our testing programme ramping up, but we’re in no rush."

McLaren's testing programme will see the papaya squad entrust a 2021 car to Arrows McLaren SP driver Pato O'Ward and to fellow IndyCar rival Colton Herta.

The former tested for McLaren in Abu Dhabi last December and vowed to make every effort to switch to F1 at some point in the near future.

"We’ve got both our test drivers under contract," said Brown. "Pato’s definitely going to be one of those. He did a very good job in Abu Dhabi last year.

"The IndyCar schedule is very packed, as you know, but the end of the year you won’t be surprised to see him in one of those cars."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.