feature-image

Reuters

feature-image

Reuters

There are a few things that are constant in life – death, taxes, Man U letting their fans down and Daniel Ricciardo smiling. Only on a handful of occasions could one recall seeing the McLaren driver not being jolly or smiling, regardless of the situation. And yet again, Ricciardo didn’t let his poor weekend dictate his behavior with his fans.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

At 6 in the morning, most living beings aren’t in a mood to have a word. But Daniel Ricciardo greeted his fans with that big infectious smile of his. After an overnight flight, Ricciardo was reportedly at the baggage claim when he greeted a few of his fans and happily posed for pictures.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is impressive considering the weekend the former Red Bull driver had in Qatar.

The Aussie only qualified in P14 while his teammate qualified in P6. After the chequered flag, the gap was lessened but to no gain. Ricciardo finished P12 while Lando Norris finished P9.

ADVERTISEMENT

article-image

Reuters

However, it was later revealed that Ricciardo was suffering from fuel warnings issues from very early in the race. Such was the severity of the ‘system error’ in his car, that he claimed he was ‘losing probably two seconds a lap’.

ADVERTISEMENT

“..we were fuel saving for I would say a good half of the race and that just took us way, way out,” Ricciardo said as reported in Autosport.

ADVERTISEMENT

“And with that, brakes get cold, tyres get cold, and you lose grip as well, so it’s just kind of a downward spiral.”

The inconsistent first season at McLaren for Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo won the race in Monza. And that is the only moment of high he’s had in this season so far. But it’s not winning races that are hurting Ricciardo, it’s the inconsistent results.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ricciardo’s last five finishes are P12, DNF, P12, P5, and P13.

article-image

Reuters

Of course, he is only in his first season at McLaren. But on the other side of the garage, there is his much less experienced and younger teammate, Lando Norris.

ADVERTISEMENT

Norris’ consistency sees him in fifth place in the driver’s championship while Ricciardo is currently eighth.

ADVERTISEMENT

It seems the ever-smiling Daniel Ricciardo will take the time available now to recharge his batteries while his team fixes his car. McLaren is in a crucial fight for third place with the two Ferraris.

So, the Papaya team also will need both their drivers to take the challenge in the last two races.

Also Read: Daniel Ricciardo Joins in on the Red Bull-Mercedes F1 Protest Brigade

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Shaharyar

2,079 Articles

Shaharyar is an experienced Senior NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports. A journalist by heart and profession, he has been at the ‘wheel’ for nearly a decade after starting with Formula 1. He has penned over 1,700 articles on the sport. Shaharyar is known for his quick reporting on controversies and feuds in NASCAR and is one of the masterminds behind "NASCAR In and Out", a Reader-Connect Program of EssentiallySports that boasts a weekly reach of fifty thousand subscribers in the US. Shaharyar believes in the conversational style of journalism, where fans are at the heart of the conversation. As a big fan of Kyle Busch, he maintains a commitment to journalistic neutrality in his coverage. A graduate of journalism from a professional university, Shaharyar blends his love for storytelling with the fast-paced nature of the sport to deliver compelling content that resonates with his readers. Despite his admiration for Kyle Busch, Shaharyar is now turning his attention to Hendrick Motorsports star Kyle Larson, whom he believes is a legend in the making. He is always looking to bring fresh perspectives and insights to his readers and engages in healthy debates and discussions about the latest developments in NASCAR. In his free time, Shaharyar enjoys watching soccer and taking long walks to unwind.

Know more

ADVERTISEMENT