McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has remarked that his connection with Daniel Ricciardo "has never been better."
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After Brown remarked of Ricciardo’s first half-season with the team, “It’s generally not met his or our expectations, as far as what we were expecting,” on Sky Sports’ Any Driven Monday show last month, speculation regarding the Australian driver’s future with McLaren erupted. In an effort to clarify previous statements he had made to the public regarding the Australian driver’s stay with McLaren having “not exceeded his or our expectations,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown remarked that his connection with the driver “has never been better.”
In spite of the remarks, Brown insisted his connection with his driver had “never been better” prior to last weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. While the McLaren boss put the onus on him and his team to provide Daniel Ricciardo and teammate Lando Norris with a vehicle fit of competing at the front, Brown defended his answers in the interview, saying that he had merely reacted honestly to the question he was given.
“We have a great relationship and had dinner a couple of weeks ago in London. We have good laughs together, and enjoy racing together, so the relationship with Daniel has never been better. I was asked a question and I just gave an honest answer. I think Daniel has said the same thing; we are here to try and get towards the front. We’ve had some awesome weekends like Monza, and then some disappointing weekends.” expressed Brown.
Read more: Ricciardo says Zak Brown’s comments on his performance are not false
While the McLaren boss also put the onus on him and his team to give Ricciardo and team mate Lando Norris a car capable of fighting at the front. “I don’t think we’ve yet given our drivers a car that is capable of being at the front on a regular basis. We have a great relationship, and I just gave an honest answer to a question about how things are going, and things could be going better, but we’re going to work hard and make sure that they [go better] in the future.”
Brown persisted in endorsing Ricciardo, citing the outcome of the Italian Grand Prix in 2021 as evidence of what his driver might do in a competitive racing vehicle. “I think last year in Monza when we had a strong race car, we could see what Daniel and Lando [Norris] could do with it. I think we need to focus on giving our drivers better race cars. And I think Daniel is highly motivated, he has all of our support, and we’re having fun. I have a great relationship with him.” said Brown.
