Within the wake of Aussie rookie Oscar Piastri‘s disastrous begin to his F1 profession, followers of compatriot Daniel Ricciardo have rubbed their palms along with glee as McLaren’s points are laid naked.
The 21-year-old’s debut couldn’t have gone any worse, pressured to retire from the Bahrain Grand Prix after simply 14 laps after beginning a disappointing 18th on the grid.
The Aussie lower a really dejected determine within the pit lane because it turned obvious McLaren engineers wouldn’t be capable to repair an electronics downside with the automobile – making him the primary driver to retire within the 2023 season.
Given the wonderkid was piloted into the seat in change of the much-loved Ricciardo, it’s a bitter tablet to swallow for the Woking-based group.
Riccardo, teammate Lando Norris and McLaren normally all had dismal seasons final yr, and it will seem the previous bore the brunt of the blame, with the 2 drivers ending eleventh and seventh respectively because the automobile skilled situation after situation.
Oscar Piastri’s F1 profession obtained off to the worst attainable begin on the Bahrain GP in a single day, with the Aussie pressured to retire after simply 14 laps
Daniel Ricciardo (pictured having a good time on the Pink Bull launch final month) followers really feel vindicated after his axing couldn’t resolve McLaren’s woes
Regardless of being the final driver to provide McLaren an F1 win (2021 Italian GP), and having one yr remaining on his contract, Ricciardo was given a reported $24million (AUD) payout to not drive the hapless McLaren automobile in 2023.
So as an alternative of being behind the wheel of a McLaren within the opening grand prix of the season and compelled into one other humiliating retirement, the exceptionally-popular Aussie is now the reserve driver finally yr’s champions Pink Bull and watching the orange carnage from afar.
And boy, did not followers of Ricciardo find it irresistible.
‘Karma is a b**ch’, one fan wrote, whereas one other stated ‘Mick Schumacher and Daniel Ricciardo are the true winners of final season as a result of they needn’t drive these s**tboxes anymore.’
‘Good to see McLaren you realize what the mattress. They screwed Ricciardo over so I hope they’ve a depressing season,’ wrote a very irate outstanding sports activities broadcaster, Howard Simon.
Daniel Ricciardo was the final driver to win a race in a McLaren, and is pictured doing his customary ‘shoey’ after profitable the Italian GP in 2021
The purpose many Ricciardo followers make primarily absolves his fellow Aussie of duty for retiring – inserting the blame solely on the automobile and the McLaren engineers’ incapacity to repair the problems.
Piastri has lengthy been touted for F1 success after a scorching sizzling rise by the ranks, profitable the Formulation 3 and Formulation 2 titles in successive seasons as a young person.
He was clearly devastated his F1 profession did not get off to a greater begin.
‘I misplaced the gear field,’ the disheartened Aussie might be heard saying on the group radio.
‘The engine was fully lifeless,’ commentator Ted Kravitz stated on the Sky Sports activities broadcast.
‘I assume he needed to flip it off earlier than he got here into field however now he is shaking his head and what a depressing begin.
‘We’re all anticipating him to have a stellar Grand Prix profession however this isn’t the primary Grand Prix he wished. He is shaking his head.’
Oscar Piastri was gutted after his F1 debut resulted in catastrophe after simply 14 laps due to points along with his McLaren
Dejected engineers sit with their heads of their palms after failing to repair Piastri’s mysterious electronics downside – forcing him to be the primary driver to retire in 2023
After an exceptionally poor preseason during which the group drove the fewest quantity of lap of any group, under-fire CEO Zak Brown did not seem to instantly know what the issue precisely was.
‘Appears to be like like he has some type of electrical situation, gearbox associated situation on monitor, which I believe was digital associated,’ he stated on the published of the race.
‘We modified steering wheels however that does not appear to have accomplished the trick so we’ll must diagnose what it’s.’
F1 legend turned commentator Nico Rosberg clearly felt the pains of each McLaren drivers.
A spectacular sundown bathed Oscar Piastri’s McLaren in color on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit
‘Lando had an especially tough pit cease. Piastri had the issue. They’re sluggish, they do not actually know why. That is a tough begin sadly,’ he stated.
‘It is robust for Lando. He is able to battle for wins and world championships and he is caught there somewhat bit now and struggling.’
As anticipated after a dynamite preseason, each Pink Bulls completed first and second respectively, lead by reigning champion Max Verstappen. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso rounded out the rostrum.
The paddock will now head to throughout the desert for the Saudi Arabia GP on March 20 (AEST), with McLaren and Piastri each determined for a reversal in fortunes.
