feature-image

Getty

feature-image

Getty

In 2019, Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull and moved to Renault. But after just two seasons, he jumped ships again, this time to McLaren. While the Australian driver has found little success in either of the two teams, it is at McLaren that he seems to be more stable.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

This is what F1 legend and Alpine director, Alain Prost, recently revealed as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

Prost described that looking back on Ricciardo’s time at Renault, there was ‘a big connection’ there. That there was a good ambiance which differs from the one Fernando Alonso is in, but ‘fantastic‘ nevertheless.

article-image

Reuters

Despite that, Prost revealed it was Ricciardo’s lack of faith and belief in Renault’s project, which led him away to walk away from the now renamed Alpine team.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He was a little bit afraid by the project, for sure,” Prost said in a podcast.

ADVERTISEMENT

Prost explained that at Renault, they had to ‘manage’ with the same engine that meant very little or no changes to the chassis. While McLaren was dynamic with their engines, that resulted in a deficit for Renault compared to the Mercedes engine of McLaren.

ADVERTISEMENT

The four-time F1 world champion revealed that regardless of how things shaped up between Ricciardo and Renault, he’s glad for the driver.

ADVERTISEMENT

“At least he’s happy, he’s in a good team.”

WATCH: Valtteri Bottas & Toto Wolff Share a Moving Moment After Unfortunate Qatar F1 Race

ADVERTISEMENT

Prost reveals the surprise with Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren

Alain Prost explained he is surprised by how Ricciardo’s first year at McLaren has shaped up.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I’m surprised. I was expecting him to be much better, much quicker in the McLaren compared to Lando,” Prost said.

He explained it could be so because of a different ambiance, or the different settings of the cars for both the drivers. According to Prost, this is ‘a normal part of the life’ of an F1 driver.

article-image

Reuters

It seems like Ricciardo’s attempts at finding a team in which he could be the main driver has left him in no-man’s-land. McLaren was his second big career move in three years. But in the British team, he has been outperformed by his much younger teammate Lando Norris.

ADVERTISEMENT

Although, having said that, Ricciardo’s time at Renault was equally beneficial to the French team and this season is only his first at McLaren. And if there’s one thing to keep in mind for drivers with the talent of Daniel Ricciardo – never rule them out.

Also Read: Daniel Ricciardo Makes an Emotional Revelation: “I’ve Been Selfish in Some Things for Quite a Few Years”

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