Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren confirm split at end of 2022 F1 season

Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren have agreed to part ways at the end of the 2022 Formula One season, paving the way for Oscar Piastri to replace the eight-time race winner.

As reported by ESPN at the start of the summer break, Ricciardo was informed after the Hungarian Grand Prix of McLaren's decision to terminate his contract one year before it expired in 2023.

Ricciardo, who won last year's Italian Grand Prix, has struggled for form this season, prompting McLaren CEO Zak Brown and team boss Andreas Seidl to decide to go in a different direction.

«It's been a privilege to be a part of the McLaren Racing family for the last two seasons but following several months of discussions with Zak and Andreas we have decided to terminate my contract with the team and agree to mutually part ways at the end of this season,» Ricciardo said.

McLaren hopes to replace Ricciardo with reigning Formula 2 champion Piastri, 21.

Piastri has been in the middle of a tug-of-war between Alpine and McLaren and his future will be decided by the FIA's contract-recognition board next week.

At the start of F1's summer break Alpine had announced that Piastri would replace Aston Martin-bound Alonso next year, but Piastri then tweeted that he did not have a contract with the French team and that he would not be racing for them in 2023.

Ricciardo looks likely to fill that seat at Alpine (formerly Renault), the team he raced at for two seasons before joining McLaren in 2021, next season.

He downplayed any suggestion he will leave F1 at the end of the year.

He added: «I'll be announcing my own future plans in due course but regardless of what the next chapter brings, I have no regrets and am proud of the effort and work and I gave McLaren, especially the win in