News came out that Ricciardo wants a $21mil settlement to vacate that seat. That $21mil is all his if he sits out the 2023 season. If however he signed with another team, his new salary will go back to McLaren while keeping that $21mil. Theoretically, he could say signs with Haas for half a mil and all McLaren will get back is $500k. 

Number is interesting as it was reported that his 2021 contract only pays him $17mil a season, with various bonuses on top for points and victories. Giant pay cut  from his Renault contract, which was like $25.5mil a year, 4x as much as he was getting paid at Red Bull before that.

The 2021 McLaren contract  was a 2+1, 2023 is the option year but Ricciardo, not McLaren holds the execution rights. 

Does he sees himself earning enough points to make another $4mil on top of his base salary for 2023?

In a perfect world, Ricciardo doesn't execute his option year and the McLaren seat is free and clear for Piastri. 

Now it would seems he has either executed his option year, or is asking to get paid to NOT execute his option year. 

$21mil is the starting point, likely the number will be between $17mil and $21mil after negotiations. 

 

 


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