Formula 1: Daniel Ricciardo saga continues as Jenson Button lambasts McLaren CEO Zak Brown: Former F1 driver Jenson Button has criticized McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown for openly expressing his dissatisfaction with Daniel Ricciardo. Brown recently opened on his feelings about Ricciardo’s underperformance, which according to Button, was not the right thing to do. Follow Formula 1 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Button, who once drove for McLaren as well, claimed “Zak is his own man and I can’t change his thoughts and what he says, but I was surprised that he came out and said that.”
Formula 1: Daniel Ricciardo SAGA continues as Jenson Button LAMBASTS McLaren CEO Zak Brown for openly criticising his driver
“Everyone with the team should be protecting these drivers. Formula 1 is a real mental game. They all have immense skill but you don’t perform if your head is not in the right place. I was surprised Zak came out and said he was not meeting expectations – we all know that,” he further added.
“But when your Team Principal comes out and says that, it definitely hurts. I’m hoping they have talked since and they can just focus on getting the best out of Daniel and the team around him for the rest of the year. Then we’ll see where he ends up in the future,” Button concluded, explaining why Brown shouldn’t have done it.
The Australian has completed in front of British colleague Lando Norris just two times in the 2022 F1 season. Ricciardo signed a three-year contract when he joined McLaren last season.
Formula 1: Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo.Formula 1: Daniel Ricciardo SAGA continues as Jenson Button LAMBASTS McLaren CEO Zak Brown for openly criticising his driver
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Meanwhile, Ricciardo was out-qualified multiple times by Norris in 2021. Lando even finished above him in the drivers’ standings with 45 points more than Daniel Ricciardo himself.
This year has also begun on a low note for Daniel as his best finish of this season has been P6 at the Australian Grand Prix. Moreover, he has registered one DNF against his name at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Ricciardo needs to keep his head up and try to change his fortunes in the upcoming races. Meanwhile, McLaren themselves need to improve on their MCL36 vehicle, given that it is way off the pace as compared to the top three – Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.
Formula 1: Daniel Ricciardo SAGA continues as Jenson Button LAMBASTS McLaren CEO Zak Brown for openly criticising his driver