Australiaโs Formula 1 golden boy Daniel Ricciardo will reportedly take a sizeable salary cut following the announcement of his left-field move from Renault to McLaren for the 2021 season.
Veteran French Formula 1 journalist Marc Limacher broke the news that the 30-year-old would be starting on the grid next year with a base salary of โฌ10 million โ significantly less than the โฌ25 million he was earning for the 2020 season at Renault.
Despite being tipped by many to become Sebastian Vettelโs replacement after his shock exit from Scuderia Ferrari, Ricciardo eventually found himself a seat at McLaren after Maranello opted for a younger driver line-up, pairing Charles Leclerc with Spaniard Carlos Sainz.
Ricciardoโs two-year contract with Renault saw him as one of the highest-paid drivers in the sport raking in over AU$40 million a year, third only to Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel respectively.
It was a rough and rather stagnant two years at Renault for Ricciardo, who hasnโt even had a chance to get into a car this season following the FIAโs decision to halt the race calendar due to coronavirus.
The โฌ15 million starting salary pay cut for Daniel Ricciardoโs all isnโt bad news, however. Limacher expanded on the contract details, among which thereโs a condition Daniel has been chasing for a long time.
- Ricciardo will be Mclarenโs preferred driver
- Two-year contract with an option for a one-year extension through to 2023
- Bonus opportunities ranging from โฌ400,000 every time he collects championship points to โฌ1 million for a Grand Prix victory.
Regardless of Daniel Riccardoโs salary, the Perth native will likely enjoy a more competitive couple of years at McLaren, especially given the teamโs transition to a Mercedes power unit in 2021. Ricciardo will be driving alongside 20-year-old British prodigy Lando Norris.
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