Australian star Daniel Ricciardo says he needs to make his McLaren move ‘stick’ to become a challenger for the world championship

Daniel Ricciardo will next year cross to his third Formula 1 team in four years. Australia’s great hope for a world title admits it’s now or never to make the great leap and explains why ‘this one has to stick’.

Daniel Ricciardo has declared his move to McLaren next year the one he needs to “make stick” if he is to achieve his dream of winning a Formula 1 world championship.

While the 31-year-old predicted he still had “at least a good five years left” in Formula 1, he said his next move was critical if he wanted to become a challenger.

Ricciardo will join McLaren from 2021, which will be his third team in four years after two seasons with Renault following his initial shock departure from Red Bull Racing.

Former F1 world champion Jenson Button recently described Ricciardo’s move as “make or break” for his career.

Ricciardo admitted he had a lot riding on his next career move.

“It’s going to have more of an impact on that for sure,” Ricciardo said of the move on his championship ambitions.

“Certainly the way I am driving this year, I feel there is still at least a good five years left in me, so there potentially is something else after this.

“But this is the move that I want to make stick for sure and want to have that success with.

“Obviously jumping around – yes, it has been my choice to move around a bit the last few years – but it’s certainly a bit more difficult on everyone.

“But I am really putting in everything into McLaren for next year and hoping that they can give me that title that they are after.”

Daniel Ricciardo says he needs to make his McLaren move “stick” if he is to achieve his ambition of challenging – and winning a world championship.

Ricciardo’s move will coincide with changes to the sport he hoped would “tighten up” the field to help bolster McLaren’s prospects after years of Mercedes dominance.

From season 2021 onwards, there will be the introduction of a spending cap ahead of the new technical regulations, which will come into play from 2022.

Announcing a new partnership with Optus, Ricciardo was optimistic the on-track battle could “open up” for everyone.

“That’s certainly what we are all expecting and hoping,” Ricciardo said.

“It has to tighten up, I think the way that it is all going. I think it will.

“Even this year, a lot of the races some journalists are calling it Formula 1.5 – the race after Mercedes — and it’s been awesome to battle with the midfield, it’s so tight.

“We do feel that let’s say Mercedes should be in that battle as well in 2022 then it really is open for everyone and the midfield teams will benefit more – or will be hurt a little less – with this cap and all the rule changes.

“So I think it should be shaping up to be a really strong place for me.”

Ricciardo has had three fourth-place finishes for Renault so far this year. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

In his second season at Renault, Ricciardo sits seventh in the drivers’ championship after his third fourth-place of the year in a drama-filled Tuscan Grand Prix last weekend.

His soon-to-be-teammate Lando Norris sits fourth in the driver standings, while McLaren is third in the constructors championship.

Initially pursued by McLaren two years ago, Ricciardo did not feel the team had the potential then to “move forward” but was swayed by key off-track appointments and “exceeded” results.

“I got approached by McLaren a couple of years ago when I had left Red Bull and I liked the guys and there was definitely some chemistry there, but I did not feel like they were in a place to really move forward yet,” Ricciardo said.

“They had come off a pretty tough season, to say the least. So the timing wasn’t there, but certainly after their season last year, it was much more convincing.

“Obviously, I had signed already (before the season restart), but seeing what they had done in the early parts of this year with Lando and (Ferrari-bound) Carlos (Sainz) both having podiums, they are really in a good place right now and making big strides.

“They are not promising there are going to be wins by the first couple of races or anything next year.

Daniel Ricciardo is excited about his move to McLaren next year.

MORE MOTORSPORT

“What about the footy?: Fans reel over Bathurst bombshell

Aussie motorsport prodigy closing in on F1 future

Deadly Dakar: Aussie ‘tried to bring him back ...but couldn’t’

 
“But every mark they have set, they have actually exceeded everything they have told me. Even back in 2018 when I spoke to them a few times. They have exceeded everything.

“They brought in some key people … James Key was one of them, and Andreas Seidl. He has been very successful in pretty much everything he has touched in motor racing and he has been very influential to the McLaren team as well and influencing change. This is what I am excited for.”

Ricciardo’s comments came as he announced a new partnership with Optus.

“I am the Chief Optimism Officer, so basically the COO, I think it has a nice ring to it,” Ricciardo said.

“I am a pretty big advocate of ‘Yes’. In my career leaving Australia and making that decision to go to Europe it was all about saying ‘Yes’ and stepping out of my comfort zone and I think that attitude got me to where I am today. I felt like we were on the same page and pretty excited to be linked to an Aussie brand as well.”