McLaren Ricciardo's best chance ever at world title

Daniel Ricciardo has said he believes his union with Mclaren could be the "best chance" he has had to become Formula 1 world champion.

While racing with Red Bull between 2014-2018, Ricciardo twice finished third in the drivers' standings, trailing only Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in '14 and '16.

Since leaving Red Bull, the Australian has finished ninth and fifth, scoring two podium finishes in his final year before joining McLaren.

Ahead of the launch of the MCL35M on Monday, Ricciardo told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald he feels McLaren could give him his best shot yet at a world title.

“I didn’t ever want to get to F1 just to get to F1 – I wanted to be world champion, and I still do," he said.

"McLaren, with the way they’re progressing, feels like the best chance for me to be able to do that, maybe the best chance I’ve had.

“You never know in this sport, but I’m confident I’m in the right place. Can I sit here and say that I can fight for a world championship next year? Who knows, but I feel confident that I’m in the right place to give myself a good shot at it."

McLaren has been on the road to recovery over the past few years after a finishing ninth - second-last - in 2015 and 2017 while aligned with power unit supplier Honda.

Switching to Renault power for 2018, McLaren quickly rose back up the order, finishing sixth, fourth, and last year, third in the constructors' standings.

For the coming year, the team has again switched power unit supplier, returning to Mercedes with whom McLaren claimed three drivers' world titles and one constructor's crown in a partnership spanning 20 years from 1995-2014.

Ricciardo added: “You can see McLaren’s pathway to getting better, and I feel McLaren is ready for me to be one of the elements they haven’t had to help them win.”

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