Home

F1

Daniel Ricciardo Reveals What is Truly ‘Holding Me Back’ at McLaren F1

Published 07/10/2021, 4:25 AM EDT

Follow Us

via Reuters

Daniel Ricciardo is having a tougher time at McLaren than his fans expected him to. While he was expected to find his feet a few races into the season, he is still visibly struggling to extract performance from his car. Despite everything he has tried, the Australian can’t seem to match the pace of much younger teammate, Lando Norris.

The Aussie driver has shown hints of progress here and there and even showcased his trademark overtaking master classes. However, he has lagged far behind Norris in qualifying, out-qualifying him only three times in nine races.

via Reuters

And the drivers’ standings narrate an even sadder story for the seven-time race winner – Ricciardo is 61 points behind Norris. But fortunately, the Aussie may have found some answers for his struggles at McLaren.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

WATCH STORY: When F1 Drivers Had a Blast on Top Gear Featuring Hamilton, Vettel & Ricciardo

Has Daniel Ricciardo improved his performance at McLaren?

As reported by RaceFans, Daniel is confident that he has made progress in understanding his car. However, he is aware he has still not found all the answers to unlock his potential in the car.

“There’re some answers. I think what we’ve discovered is I’ve made progress,” said Ricciardo.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest F1 stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

via Reuters

“It just now needs to come still with more subconscious energy, [there] is still a lot of thought going into it.

“And although I’ve made progress, there’s still a lot of energy being consumed to make this progress. So maybe that is now holding me back from finding the edge in the car,” said Ricciardo.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Daniel Ricciardo Reveals the Most Embarrassing Moment in His F1 Career

Ricciardo is confident that his performance will come soon

Daniel is positive that in the next races, he will have a massive boost in his performances. While he’s aware he needs to qualify in the Q3 and finish inside the points, the Aussie has realistic targets for himself right now.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

“We’ll still keep looking into it, see what we can do as well, with setup and improve some things, but I just have to keep positive and try to enjoy it,” said Ricciardo.

With a lengthy break ahead of the British GP to clear his head, do you think the Australian will be able to put on a show in the papaya car? Let us know in the comments.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Devang Chauhan

1,560Articles

One take at a time

Devang Chauhan is an F1 author at EssentiallySports. Having completed his graduation in Journalism and Mass Communication, he has a keen eye for writing engaging and detailed articles on F1. Previously a writer for Sport Social's 'Chase Your Sport' Magazine, Devang has been a ardent follower of the sport for over a decade and has attended two editions of the Indian Grand Prix.
Show More>