In one season, the points difference between him and his teammate could reach a staggering 74 points. If Ricardo had scored an extra 6 points in any race this season, McLaren would have retained fourth place in the annual team rankings, just like last year.
No wonder McLaren no longer wanted to keep Ricardo; they sent him away like a plague, paying him a year's salary in advance.
However, since Ricardo came from Red Bull originally, he announced joining Red Bull before leaving early in 2023.
Yet, Ricardo did not secure a driver position at Red Bull or Toro Rosso, instead becoming a test driver for Red Bull. Due to his popularity, Ricardo also participated in Red Bull's marketing activities, greatly reducing the burden on Verstappen and Perez, allowing them more time on the track.
Apart from McLaren, the ranking of other teams this season seemed quite normal, with no team appearing out of their expected position.
