Daniel Ricciardo: “The next generation of F1 has the potential to turn the field around a bit and everything I’ve seen and experienced so far inspires me about where McLaren is going. “; Ricciardo makes its debut in new Mercedes-powered MCL35M at Silverstone on Tuesday
By James Galloway
Last updated: 16/02/21 8:27 am
3:39
Watch the moment Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo saw their new MCL35M for the first time and talk about some of the 2021 changes.
Watch the moment Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo saw their new MCL35M for the first time and talk about some of the 2021 changes.
Daniel Ricciardo has spoken of his excitement about how he feels McLaren can achieve in the coming seasons.
The 31-year-old Renault and Red Bull driver was unveiled in team colors for the first time at their 2021 launch on Monday night alongside team player Lando Norris, with the the MCL35M car they will be driving in the new season has also been unveiled.
The Australian is driving the car for the first time on Tuesday at Silverstone.
Ricciardo, who revealed that he had signed a three-year deal, said that while there were no promises about how his time at the famous Woking team would play out, he believes that McLaren is on the right track – specifically heading into the time of the new F1 rules from 2022 when the pack is expected to close.
“We don’t have a crystal ball. Leaving Red Bull or leaving Renault, I clearly feel that’s right,” Ricciardo said in a media call.
“Do I know 100 percent how to turn it around? No, but of course I feel like McLaren have done the right thing especially in the last few years to establish themselves for the these rule changes come into effect in ’22.
0:57 Watch Daniel Ricciardo arrive in style at the launch of his new team and then leave the lights on his McLaren sportsmanship!
“That kind of next-generation F1 has the potential to turn the field around a bit and everything I’ve seen and experienced so far inspires me about where McLaren is. dol. “
Speaking warmly about the team’s key leadership – boss Zak Brown, team principal Andreas Seidl and technical director James Key, with whom he worked briefly in 2013 at Toro Rosso – Ricciardo explained why he was feeling that the team was now a different proposition than when he first started he talked to them about a possible move before he left Red Bull.
“It’s three years [on the contract] so there is plenty of time to put this thing forward. Obviously, I feel like I’m coming here with a bunch of movement behind the team as well, “said the Australian.
“Not just results, but we say good stability in the team and in the infrastructure. When I spoke to McLaren a couple of years back in 2018, I don’t think Andreas was there yet, he wasn’t James Key, so there they were still moving parts.
0:44 Daniel Ricciardo says he has been caught so far during his time at McLaren and is optimistic about his partnership with the team going forward.
“In the end not only were the results not quite on track yet, but they were trying to figure out their own structure and I think they have set that up now. I’m just solving the puzzle instead of trying to put it all together. I definitely feel good about it. “
Ricciardo, who said two rostrum finishes with Renault in 2020, said: “I definitely have a desire to be on the podium for my first time with McLaren. As this team accomplished last year, I think I think that we can achieve it again this year. It will only be that way if we continue and submit the work, there will be a great opportunity. “
McLaren’s new signing on…
Driving with a Mercedes engine for the first time …
“It’s something I’m looking forward to. I moved with Renault at the back in this hybrid time so I’m looking forward to experiencing something new again. To can I get on the path it’s hard to find out, but they’ve had a lot of success so I’m expecting something possible. “
Become a teammate to Lando Norris …
“We both have the same approach to the game. We both love what we do, we enjoy our work and we’re not afraid to show it. So the we have one approach but from a different generation.I am 10 years on Lando, so it creates a really good mix.On the way for sure we always see getting good time, but I believe the competition is well on its way, it will be fierce and, more importantly, drive the team forward. “
2:07 New McLaren sign Daniel Ricciardo gets some amazing messages from his home in Australia at the team’s launch.
The running pack behind Mercedes and Red Bull…
“There was real competition with most of the field. There were more teams than did not finish on the podium last year so the battle for the fight against it was intensifying. Mercedes You still have the target back but we are trying to close that. “
New F1 boss Stefano Domenicali’s call for drivers to become role models …
“Especially by being in my 30s now you are thinking more about the younger generation and how you see yourself. You take a little more conscious effort to be a good career model and stand by your values. Speaking of Stefano, I’m really excited to see him come in and fill that position. I think he’ll be great for Formula 1. “