Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian driver for McLaren thinks he can handle himself and he’s his own critic when it comes to performance. The Aussie speedster has been upset and down lately due to dip in his performance at his new team and failing to cope up with his teammate Lando Norris.
Daniel ‘Honey Badger’ Ricciardo talking about this, conveyed in an interview, “But at some point, some unflattering comments will filter through. Generally though I am my own main critic. An article or two here and there doesn’t upset me. I’m only bothered when I’m not in the best shape, but that’s when talking to Zak (Brown) or Andreas (Seidl) helps me. They’ve said ‘Relax – the season has just begun. We know you’re a talented guy.”
We’re proud of you, @danielricciardo! 👏 #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/EOWseupDlk
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 9, 2021
Riccardo has shown great potential last season for Renault and no wonder why he’s been picked up by McLaren as a replacement for Carlos Sainz this year. The Australian driver managed to pick up two podiums last year and was P5 in 2020.
The 31- year-old driver further asserted, “In these situations you need faith in yourself. I’ve won races and titles wherever I’ve raced before and I always manage to find a solution, figure it out. Of course I want to get there faster, but I’m not worried.”
Lando Norris takes the lead from his McLaren F1 teammate Daniel Ricciardo at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at the Autodrome Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola on Sunday, April 18, 2021. (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
Daniel as it seems finding it hard to settle down in his new team. While he was at Renault, they used Renault engines, but now at McLaren they use Mercedes engines. So there’s this settlement issues that he’s been struggling with lately.
The former Red Bull driver added on this, “The hardest part is that I am having to change the style of driving that I’ve been using for many years. The McLaren is just very different from last year’s Renault. The difference between those two teams is greater than between Red Bull and Renault”
The HONEY BADGER. 🦡 #OnThisDay last year, @DanielRicciardo signed for McLaren. Let’s keep the good times rolling, Daniel. 👊 pic.twitter.com/8QzOXrtsSQ
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 14, 2021
Daniel Ricciardo is at P7 this year after the end of four races this season. He managed to pick up 24 points, however no podiums as yet. The Honey Badger finished at P6 in the recently concluded Spanish Grand Prix weeks back. It’ll be interesting to see how he performs in the Monaco Grand Prix coming up next week.
