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Daniel Ricciardo Reveals the McLaren F1 Legacy He Wants to Leave Behind

Published 04/05/2021, 9:20 AM EDT

Daniel Ricciardo has moved teams frequently as he looks to find one that will fulfill his ambition of being an F1 world champion. He has finally found his way to McLaren after the team courted him when he had left Red Bull to race for Renault. Ricciardo reveals how he plans on helping the team and what his long-term goals are.

The Australian has completed a decade in F1, which has seen him turn out for a total of four teams. He cut ties with Red Bull in 2018 as he didn’t see the team helping him in his ambition of winning a world title. He was impressed with the project at Renault but on arriving there, was very underwhelming in his performance, earning just two podiums over his two-year stint there.

The Aussie believes that McLaren could be the perfect team to realize his ambitions.

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Daniel Ricciardo wants to add to the history of McLaren

In an interview on F1’s YouTube channel, Daniel Ricciardo spoke about his first emotions on joining McLaren.

“It’s pretty surreal to walk into a team like that. As a kid, I watched it on TV and I’m very familiar with the McLaren colors. To be a part of that, it is a pinch-yourself moment, but you quickly block that out and just focus on getting the job done.”

The Aussie enumerated his goals with the team and how he hopes to help them.

“Definitely to get my name on some of the trophies in the MTC (McLaren Technology Centre), that’s one. And really just look back at the year and know that I’ve made a difference. I think the team has created something awesome, particularly in the last 24 months.

“And I wanna feel like I’ve really contributed to that. I wanna ride the wave they’re on and also wanna do some of the weightlifting. And look back and say alright. This team has made the extra step because of my input and my drive and determination and all the rest of the things.”

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How will the Aussie do in McLaren?

Daniel Ricciardo may have just found the ideal home for a driver of his talents. McLaren, in general, has been quietly on the rise, putting in very good performances over the last two seasons. They have looked even quicker with the addition of the Mercedes power unit for this season.

The Australian will look to finish within the top seven of the Driver’s Championship. He should also look to help the team in its goal of finishing as the third-best team in F1. If he and the team are able to do that, the sky is the limit in what they can achieve in the game-changing 2022 season. That season would be a better yardstick on which to judge how far they have come.

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Bahrain GP: Daniel Ricciardo ‘More Comfortable’ at McLaren Compared to Renault After First F1 Race

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Written by:

Ashish Thomas is an F1 author at EssentiallySports. Having followed motorsports since age 5, Ashish holds an enviable knowledge of F1 history. Ashish holds extensive experience in sports writing, having previously worked for SportsQuest and Fansided.

Daniel Ricciardo Reveals the McLaren F1 Legacy He Wants to Leave Behind

Daniel Ricciardo wants to add to the history of McLaren

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How will the Aussie do in McLaren?