Out done, down and out was the big smile from Down Under at McLaren. Often outshined by teammate Lando Norris, the Woking based team decided to replace Riccardo with a hot up-and-comer, Oscar Piastri. Finding himself on the sidelines, the Aussie rejoined Red Bull Racing as a third driver. The multiple-race winner found himself without a drive for 2023. Danny bounced around a few teams since joining the F1 grid back in 2011 with HRT. Affectionately referred to as the Honey Badger, he’s a fan favorite who appears to have ended his Formula One story, one or two chapters too early.
Wooed by the opportunity to join Sauber as CEO ahead of Audi Sport minority stake acquisition, Seidl bids McLaren farewell. The German engineer leaves his post as Team Principal at McLaren to join the Swiss based Sauber team to start paving the road for Audi Sport to transition onto the F1 Grid. Appointed to replace Andreas, is Andrea Stella. The Italian has held many key positions with top teams, winning three F1 championships over his two decades in the F1 Paddock.
McLaren successfully won the legal tug-of-war against Alpine to secure the services of another Aussie, Oscar Piastri (with the help of a third Aussie, Mark Webber). The 21-year-old Piastri knows what it takes to win as he’s been crowned Champion in Formula Renault, F2 and F3. He’ll face stiff competition from his new teammate (Lando Norris), who has turned in some absolutely brilliant performances at McLaren.
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