Daniel Ricciardo says he felt sorry for Oscar Piastri over the contract dispute that unfolded during the 2022 F1 season.
Oscar Piastri will race for McLaren F1 next year, replacing Daniel Ricciardo, who left the team following a dismal two years.
However, the Alpine F1 team also insisted that Oscar Piastri’s contract was valid until 2023, so Piastri’s future was only settled following a public hearing from the F1 contract approval committee.
In an interview with the InTheFastLane podcast, Daniel Ricciardo said he felt sorry for Oscar Piastri despite his personal struggles on the track.
“I definitely felt sorry for him,” said Ricciardo.
“Don’t get me wrong, of course my career was kind of heartbreaking and I was obsessed with myself and trying to figure out what the hell I was going to do. ”
“But at the same time, I was aware of the comments and things that were directed at him.”
“I felt sorry for him for several reasons. One, getting into Formula 1 should be the greatest moment of your life. It’s a dream come true and to really enjoy and celebrate it. It’s a little disappointing if we can’t do it, and in a way what the outcome is.”
“He was in that situation, but he didn’t create it. It’s a product of all these events.”
Oscar Piastri is managed by Australian Mark Webber, who raced in F1 from 2002 to 2013.
Some have suggested that the situation might result in a sour relationship between the parties involved, but Daniel Ricciardo says otherwise.
“Of course, Mark also has a job to find the driver’s seat,” said Ricciardo.
“People were like, ‘How can you do that to another Australian!’ I didn’t.”
“We were all trying to do the best we might. No one really knows him yet as a driver, as a character, as an individual.”
“I think it’s a bit harsh that he’s being criticized when people are just making their own guesses.”
“So I sympathize with him. This should be one of the proudest moments of his career and it’s not something he hesitates to talk regarding.”
Category: F1 / Daniel Ricardo / mclaren / Oscar Piastri
