McLaren move now "bittersweet" - Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo

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McLaren move now "bittersweet" - Ricciardo

Australian opted to sign for McLaren for 2021 before this season started

Ian Parkes

Saturday 3 October 2020 17:41

Daniel Ricciardo has conceded that his move to McLaren is now "bittersweet" in light of his superb run of form for Renault but he is resolute that he has no regrets.

Ricciardo has finished in the points in the last four consecutive races, collecting a total of 43 to leave him just two behind his team-mate at McLaren for next year in Lando Norris in the battle for fourth place in the driver's standings.

The Australian is currently enjoying both the feel and pace of Renault's RS20, and with hindsight, it appears he may have jumped too soon in signing for McLaren after putting pen to paper on a deal before this season started.

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But a defiant Ricciardo said: "It’s obviously no disrespect to Renault and where I currently am, but no, I don’t regret it.

"Am I happy to see us progress? Absolutely. All well and good, if it means we’ve got Renault as a competitor next year to push McLaren further then I think it’s good for everyone.

"So I’m not regretting it, but I’m also not unhappy with the progress. I want to be racing at the front.

"Every race in F1 is so important. Every chance I get to do it, the sooner the better. I am glad we’re making progress, and I feel a part of it, which is important as well to me and I guess my growth as a driver."

Despite the impending arrival from next year of Fernando Alonso, who has been firmly integrating himself into the team over the past couple of weeks, Ricciardo maintains he is being kept firmly in the loop in Renault's bid to clinch third in the constructors' standings.

With the team seven points behind third-placed McLaren, Ricciardo added: "The team haven’t shut me out on anything. I’ve been doing simulator and all of it.

"It’s been really good to work with them. I know, for sure, bittersweet, especially for some guys in this team to know I can’t continue after this year, but I’m going to give it a red hot crack until the last day."

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