Zak Brown says Daniel Ricciardo's failure to live up to his team's expectations will always remain "a great mystery", but the McLaren boss says the door remains open for the Aussie to return to team papaya in the future, if the "stars are aligned".
Ricciardo agreed to an early termination of his arrangement with McLaren after a disappointing second season with the team.
The 33-year-old had joined the Woking-based outfit at the start of 2021 with big ambitions while McLaren was equally hopeful of a productive relationship.
But while Ricciardo delivered a sensational win to McLaren at Monza during his first year with the team, the remainder of his tenure was a succession of disappointing results interspersed with all-too-rare glimpses of the Ricciardo of old.
©McLaren
"It is tough, we all love Daniel, such a great spirit in the garage and on the radio and at the MTC, but sometimes things don't work out," Brown said in an interview on the team's website.
"It is kind of the great mystery. He definitely has the talent. He showed us that in Monza - not because everyone got wiped out, he took the lead and he was gone - and he has won eight grands prix.
"So frustrating for all of us but the memory of Monza, to date, is my favourite memory in 30 years of motorsport and I have got to thank Daniel for that."
Both team and driver were disconcerted by the outcome of their partnership. But they left each other with their relationship intact.
"I very much hope to see him on the grid again in F1, which is his desire, and the door remains open for him to be in some McLaren in the future if the stars align," added Brown.
"I would love to go racing again."
© McLaren
As Ricciardo prepares for a year on the sidelines as Red Bull Racing's third driver, Brown admits the arrival at Woking of the Aussie's successor, rookie Oscar Piastri, and his pairing with the ever-improving Lando Norris has his crews buzzing once again.
"We think Oscar's going to be a sensational racing driver," the American commented. "He's won a lot of championships in his first year, which always tells you a driver's special."
"We sit here very excited with the potential of our driver line-up."
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