Spanish GP: Ricciardo Still Lacking ‘Confidence’ Amid McLaren F1 Struggles

Daniel Ricciardo has had a fair start to 2021. In his first season at McLaren, he has scored 16 points across 3 races so far, although he is yet to break into the Top 5. His teammate Lando Norris has 37 points and is 3rd in the driver standings having won a podium in the Imola Grand Prix.

While it may seem that Ricciardo is underperforming, he admits he is yet to find the confidence he needs to push the car to its limits. Currently, he is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid. However, 3 races is often a short time to get familiar with a new car.

Ricciardo: It’s about trusting the car

Coming to a new team with a completely different set-up isn’t easy. Each car gives a different sense of feel to each driver, which ultimately shows the drivers the limits they can push the car to.

Ricciardo believes that trusting the car is important, which at the moment is inhibiting him from pushing the car to its limit.

Ricciardo said, “At the end of the day, obviously there’s a lot of technique, but also it’s about trusting the car and turning it and knowing it’s gonna stick.”

“I think the sensation is still a little bit different, and I think that’s probably taking a little bit of that, probably trust, away from me at the moment” said Ricciardo.

Lando has managed with the setup better: Ricciardo

Ricciardo also pointed out that his teammate Lando Norris‘ familiarity with the setup has allowed him to extract the full potential of the car.

Ricciardo said, “Lando in the debriefs complains about the same things, or like the weaknesses are the same things. He’s still just a bit more used to this car doing that, and he’s able to probably drive through it a bit better.”

Qualifying might be a bit of a struggle for the Australian at the ongoing Spanish Grand Prix. Finishing P14 and P15 in FP1 and FP2 respectively, which position do you reckon he’ll start tomorrow’s race?

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