There has been plenty to talk about on the F1 Paddock this week. We have seen drivers leave teams, new manufacturers joining the sport, and lot's of speculation regarding next year's schedule. Here is a recap of all things F1.
Daniel Ricciardo OUT officially at McLaren: After McLaren team boss Zak Brown announced that Oscar Piastari would be driving in Orange next season, it was safe to assume that Ricciardo was going to be the odd man out. The only problem was the team still had one year remaining in his contract and getting him out of the deal was going to be tough and they had to eat about $20 Millon to pay off his salary. There were rumors that the team would keep him around and possibly utilize him on their IndyCar team but they couldn't reach an agreement due to Ricciardo's reluctance to leave F1. There are options for the Australian driver including a reunion with Alpine/Renault but chances are more favorable that he will have to take a one-year hiatus and hope that he can find his way back into a seat.
Audi's return: The Manufacturer's frenzy continues as it was announced that the Audi will be joining F1 in 2026. They join their VW counterparts in Porsche as the newest engine supplier. The question now is what team will they join? All signs are pointing towards Sauber as Alfa Romeo will leave after next season. Williams is also an option as well as their owner Dorilton Capital could be interested in entertaining an offer from the manufacter.
French Grand Prix will not return for 2023: As the sport expands and continues to grow globally, unfortunately, there are tracks that will be left off as a result and Cricut Paul Riccard appears to be the track on the outside looking in. While there is a chance that the race can return to the schedule every other year, its future seems mum. Other tracks that are in doubt next season include Spa and the legendary Monaco Grand Prix. As awesome as it is to have new circuits like Las Vegas and a possible return to South Africa, it should never come at the expense of some of the sport's most legendary tracks. Hopefully, they are able to figure out a way to appease everyone in the future to deal with this demand.