How McLaren Obstructed Daniel Ricciardo From Finishing Ahead of Lando Norris at Australian GP

The McLaren duo had an amazing weekend in Australia. After a poor start to the season, both the drivers finished in the Top 10 at the Australia GP. But this great finish resulted from the McLaren engineer’s advice to Daniel Ricciardo.

The Papaya team has been struggling this season at the slow-turn corners. But the Albert Park Circuit suited the 2022 challenger MCL36 and both the drivers pushed their cars to get a P5 and P6 finish. The homeboy Ricciardo was happy with the results after the P14 finish in Bahrain and the DNF exit in Jeddah.

Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 19, 2022 McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo during qualifying REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

But the McLaren duo could get these results because the engineers back in the paddock advised the Honey Badger to not push Lando Norris. because the young Brit faced some issues with his MCL36.

DIVE DEEPER: Watch: Lando Norris Annihilates McLaren Teammate Daniel Ricciardo Despite Double Points Finish at Australian GP

Ricciardo’s engineer advised, “Daniel, we’re managing something on Lando’s car. It’s OK to close the gap – but don’t put him under pressure. This is the last lap. Don’t get too close to Lando, he may lose power.”

“We take this result as motivation to keep working hard to bring more performance to the car.”

Today’s #AusGP race report.

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) April 10, 2022

Daniel Ricciardo is happy with the ‘Photo Finish’

After the Monza race last season, both the McLaren drivers ended up on the podium this year in Australia. The third race of the 2022 schedule was already special for the Honey Badger. After all, it was a home race for the Australian driver.

MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Lando Norris of McLaren and Great Britain, Zac Brown of USA and Mclaren and Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and McLaren during the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza on September 12, 2021 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)

But his happiness got elevated after he finished the race in the Top 10. However, the cherry on the top for Ricciardo was that his young teammate also finished in the Top 10 besides him. The Honey Badger shared how his engineer asked him to be careful as Norris’s car had issues.

DOUBLE POINTS.

Great job all weekend, team.#AusGP pic.twitter.com/g9Hlk85Hcu

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) April 10, 2022

Ricciardo, “Looked like a bit of a photo finish. I was told Lando had a few issues towards the end. Obviously, he slowed down quite a lot, so the team said, uhh… be sensible.”

Daniel could not believe the results after the Australian GP. “I had to control myself a little bit but of course, a fifth and a sixth is a massive result for us so far this year.” The Honey Badger said, “If you would’ve said this in Bahrain I probably would’ve laughed sarcastically, so very happy with this progress.”

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The 32-year-old left Australia with joy and positivity for the future races. Let’s see how the McLaren duo performs in the upcoming Emilia Romagna GP.

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