Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo "never really spoke" before McLaren partnership

McLaren

Norris and Ricciardo "never really spoke" before McLaren partnership

Ricciardo partners Norris at McLaren this season after replacing Ferrari-bound Sainz

Ewan Gale

Friday 12 March 2021 09:29

Lando Norris has revealed he and his new McLaren team-mate Daniel Ricciardo "never really spoke" prior to the Australian's switch to the team.

Norris' relationship with former team-mate Carlos Sainz was well documented, even getting the nickname 'Carlando', as the pair showcased the changing attitudes towards racing at McLaren.

With Sainz moving to Ferrari, the relationship has been split-up but there is a large amount of excitement for the new partnership of Ricciardo and Norris.

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The two drivers are sharing driving duties on the opening day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Ricciardo on hand in the morning session with Norris taking over in the afternoon.

Asked what contact he had previously enjoyed with Ricciardo before his move to McLaren, Norris said: “Basically none. The only contact I had with him really was when you saw it and that was in press conferences and so on.

“We never really spoke, or very rarely spoke, via text or on the phone or anything like that."

Sainz was Norris' first team-mate in F1 when the British driver made the step up from Formula 2 in 2019.

Now that he has two years of experience under his belt and has been in and around the paddock, Norris believes his previous dealings with Ricciardo will simplify the integration process.

“I guess it’s similar to with Carlos," he added. "I probably knew Daniel a little bit more than when I met Carlos entering Formula 1. I never spoke with Carlos once before we met here at the MTC.

“With Daniel, obviously, I know him slightly more already so it’s slightly different. Things were a little bit further along but days like today when we’re in the factory together doing interviews together, those are the days where you get to learn and get to know a bit more about the guy you are working with.

“We never really spoke that much last year or over the past two years or even during this winter. We’ve both been doing our own thing but the last few weeks, getting back to work and working together, it’s probably the most I have spoken to him.”