Formula One championship: Australian star Daniel Ricciardo reflects on his first season with McLaren ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
There were a number of ‘low days’ and plenty of self doubt for Daniel Ricciardo in his first season at McLaren. But one moment changed things, and its driving him forward.
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Daniel Ricciardo has opened up on the “low days” and “self-doubt” which plagued the start of his first year with McLaren, as he vowed to take the next step with the team in 2022.
Ahead of his final race of the Formula One season in Abu Dhabi, Ricciardo reflected on the challenges he overcame at the start of his first season with McLaren to deliver the “biggest win” and moment of his career.
After his switch from Renault (now Alpine) to McLaren, Ricciardo admitted finding his feet in his new car had taken longer than he had expected.
But he had been buoyed by a more encouraging finish to the year to give himself a platform to launch into his 2022 campaign.
In a testing start to his first season at McLaren, Ricciardo struggled to make an impact early as he was outperformed by his younger teammate Lando Norris, and took until the 10th race of the year to crack the top-five at the British Grand Prix.
But Ricciardo sensationally turned a corner when he led home a McLaren one-two at the Italian Grand Prix in September, which has been followed by another three top-five finishes.
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The struggles before then had tested Ricciardo, now an eight-time Grand Prix winner, like never before.
“It wasn’t to a point where I questioned the decision (to move to McLaren) because I did really feel good in the team and I felt like it was the right fit,” Ricciardo said.
“But there were certainly moments of self-doubt. There were some days where … you can be slower in qualifying but it’s like I made a mistake, I locked a brake or I hit that kerb too much and you normally know where the time is.
“Whereas there were some qualifying sessions where I was scratching my head, I didn’t really know. It wasn’t like a 10th, I was half a second, nearly a second off at times.
“That’s where I was really at times like, ‘What’s up, what’s going on?’ There were moments of self-doubt but I would say fortunately they didn’t last or carry on.
“It took longer than I would have liked for sure but to come away with the result at Monza that made everything worth it and I certainly had more top fives and more promise in the second half of the season.
“I will still admit that I am not perfect with the car, there is still some improvement to do but I made a clear and proper step over the course of the year and hopefully I can make another step at the beginning of next year and then we will be in a really good place consistently.”
Monza magic
It had been a long time coming for Ricciardo.
The Australian had stood idle on seven Grand Prix wins since his famous Monaco victory when he was in his final season at Red Bull in 2018.
Ricciardo twice finished third last year – his second and final season at Renault – but his victory at Monza had tasted sweeter than anything before when he finally got to stand on the top step of the podium again.
“It definitely made the lows worth it,” Ricciardo said.
“The more that win sunk in the more I realised how much it meant to me and it was probably, now with some time passing, the biggest kind of day or win of my career and moment.
“Because I think just after the struggles that I went through … I’m battling myself as well at the track, away from the track trying to figure out what’s going on.
“There were certainly some low days which led to frustration and that but to kind of come through and to not only get a good result but to get a win was huge.”
Ricciardo said he had been blown away by the response to his drought-breaking win.
“That whole weekend, something felt on, something felt right,” Ricciardo said.
“I definitely had a chip on my shoulder but it was positive and it wasn’t a chip that carried negative energy, it was a chip I used to really motivate me or push me on that weekend and it was really magical and I felt the aftermath of it all and the response, everyone was so happy and that made everything worthwhile.”
The next step
After showing a “lot more promise” in the second half of the Formula One season in 2021, Ricciardo is confident he can take another step forward with McLaren next year.
Ricciardo was excited about what opportunities the new F1 regulations could bring.
“I definitely need to make that next little step to be really where I want to be within the team,” Ricciardo said.
“I expect to find that for myself and I hope in the first half of next year.
“I am excited at the thought of Formula One next year with the changes. It really opens up opportunities for everything – whether that suits us, comes in our favour or not – who knows?
“But just the thought of the change and perhaps more wheel to wheel racing and that sort of stuff, that is really exciting.
“I hope that means that we will have more chances at podiums.”
Now 32, Ricciardo said his Monza victory had proved to himself he could still be a challenger if the stars aligned for him.
“It’s hard to really predict how the season will play out in terms of team competitiveness,” Ricciardo said.
“But Monza reassured me of everything I believed in and I feel like that showed when there is an opportunity, I have still got everything I’ve got to take it with both hands.
“If we are in a position next year to fight for wins and potentially a championship, Monza proved everything to me that I could still do.
“That’s really all I need so hopefully we’re in that position and I can be here to fight for that.”
Another bet?
Ricciardo has been partial to a bet on his race results with his team bosses.
He famously waged a bet with Cyril Abiteboul last year for the former Renault boss to get a tattoo if the Australian finished on the podium for the French team in 2020.
This year, Ricciardo got to drive his racing hero Dale Earnhardt Snr’s 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo from McLaren team boss Zak Brown’s collection after his win at Monza.
Now, Ricciardo is plotting what his next bet with Brown for a race win next year might be.
“We have got to make a new one,” Ricciardo said.
“Probably Sunday night after the race, I might have a glass of red with Zak and try to get him nice and cosy and comfy to make another good deal.
“I have got to think about it. I haven’t quite thought of something but it will give me something to think about.”
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Originally published as Formula One championship: Australian star Daniel Ricciardo reflects on his first season with McLaren ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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