McLaren boosted by Seidl's "German efficiency" - Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo has praised the impact of McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl after the Woking-based outfit fared well in Formula 1 pre-season testing.

Over the past three years, McLaren has been on a road to recovery after ending its disastrous relationship with power unit supplier Honda.

After joining the team in 2019, Seidl has noticeably helped steer McLaren's rise up the order, culminating in its best finish in the constructors' standings for eight years last season when it claimed third.

For the coming campaign, Ricciardo has joined the team from midfield rivals Renault - now Alpine - and Seidl has already left an impression on the Australian.

“I really like Andreas," he said. "He is a good operator and I think he has contributed a lot to the team and contributed to the structure. “Even just some of the discipline in the team, I feel like he is definitely a good guy to be around McLaren right now and I am looking forward to learning more about him and working more with Andreas.

“So far, so good. German efficiency.”

Across the three-day test at Bahrain's International Circuit, Ricciardo topped two of his three sessions and completed 173 laps overall.

Perhaps understandably, the 31-year old does not yet feel 100 per cent integrated into the team.

"From a race weekend, dialling in the strategic stuff with the team and going through, let's say, a race simulation, I'm pretty comfortable," added Ricciardo.

"So it's just me getting comfortable within myself and the car. It naturally takes a bit of time but I don't really want to give myself the time."

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