The Australian hopes to put his 2021 struggles behind with McLaren's new MCL36 which was launched for the upcoming season.
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Australian F1-ace Daniel Ricciardo hopes to put behind his struggle of the previous season with the newly launched McLaren MCL36 for the 2022 season. He was seen relatively struggling in the 2021 season in comparison to his teammate Lando Norris as he worked to get up to speed with the particular driving style required of last year’s MCL35M. However, there has been positives to look up to from his performance, as he claimed the first victory for McLaren since 2018 in Monza. It was also his maiden year with the new constructors.
“Simply, it kind of occurred to me that I did not really know my strengths. I knew that I could be fast, but I thought maybe because I’ve got bigger balls!… But going through it, I realised this is what made me fast in years past, this is actually what gives me the confidence in the car, this actually where I am better than others,” Ricciardo said at the launch of McLaren’s new MCL36.
“I’ve gained some good knowledge with that now. I am sure there will still be some highs and lows, but I am sure I will be able to adapt better than in 2021… Hopefully, you’ll see me driving free as a bird in 2022!”
The car has been created for close racing. And Ricciardo hopes that its control and behaviour turns out to be a handful on the tracks which will boost his chance heading into the upcoming season.
“For me I look around and say that looks fun. So, there is a nice fun and an ugly fun. I hope this is the nice fun!
“If this allows us to be closer, to have a little bit more of a braking zone – I hope we have to brake a little bit earlier on these cars and buy ourselves a bit more distance to work with,” added Ricciardo. “I think that will promote not only more overtaking but more chances for the big D.R.I.C.C. to come back!”
Ricciardo spent most of the winter break away from home. But for him spending a few days with the family has been a quick fix ahead of the record-breaking 23-race season.
“It was really nice to get back,” said Ricciardo. “It wasn’t without its struggles, as I was staring at a hotel ceiling for two weeks! But actually walking out and getting the air hug from Mum and Dad and all the rest of them, it was really nice.
“Then I had about four weeks at home, out of quarantine, a lot of that was with the family, doing simple things and catching up, so it was the refresher I needed. It’s always hard leaving, and it doesn’t make leaving any easier, but that was the fix that I needed and certainly longed for it at times in ‘21,” he added.
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