Amid Daniel Ricciardo’s struggle in McLaren, he issues a message insisting that he…
“I don’t feel I’ve ever left a win on the table,” says Daniel Ricciardo in Sky exclusive; McLaren affirm commitment to Australian, while Nico Rosberg says Ricciardo up against Lando Norris – “the best of his generation”; Watch Hungarian GP live on Sky Sports this weekend.
Daniel Ricciardo has issued a defiant message amid his struggles at McLaren, insisting he is still capable of winning in Formula 1 if given the opportunity.
Ricciardo arrived at McLaren as a high-profile signing in 2021 but has, in the words of the team’s chief Zak Brown, fallen short of expectations so far, with young Briton Lando Norris establishing himself as the team’s leader.
That lack of form has also seen the Australian’s future questioned, with Ricciardo recently issuing a statement to confirm – despite McLaren links to other drivers – that he will be seeing out his contract until 2023.
In a revealing exclusive with Sky Sports F1, Ricciardo explained the confidence he has in himself to bounce back at McLaren – and to get back to the top of F1, if given a competitive car by the team who are currently fourth in the standings.
“Give me a winning car, and I’ll win,” Ricciardo told Ted Kravitz in France. “I don’t feel I’ve ever left a win on the table.”
Amid Daniel Ricciardo’s struggle in McLaren, he issues a message insisting that he…
“It’s like, let’s figure this out, I want to take on this challenge with you. Let’s figure it out because you give me this, and I’ll give you this in return.
“That’s the confidence I have in myself and that’s ultimately why I still wake up wanting to do it.”
Ricciardo is an eight-time race winner in F1, claiming seven victories for Red Bull and one for McLaren last year at the Italian GP – the team’s first since 2012. A fine overtaker, Ricciardo has also proved to be an opportunist.
But minus that marvellous Monza, Ricciardo hasn’t hit his high notes at McLaren.
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Last year’s troubles were put down to getting to grips with a new car, but this season in a new machine Norris, 22, has been even more dominant against his older team-mate, 33.
“It’s like trying to dance with a partner and if you’re not in sync, you’re not dancing,” said Ricciardo. “You can’t dance.”