Daniel Ricciardo seeks "bad day" improvement for McLaren success

McLaren

Ricciardo seeks "bad day" improvement for McLaren success

Ricciardo will aim to improve on his 2021 performances

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Friday 21 January 2022 09:15

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Daniel Ricciardo believes he has to improve how he drives on his "bad days" if he is to succeed long term with McLaren.

In the fight between Ferrari and McLaren for third place in the constructors' standings last season, Ricciardo finished last of the four drivers involved after struggling to adapt to the car given his style of driving.

Ricciardo at least enjoyed success in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in September when he claimed McLaren's first victory in nine years.

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That highlighted the fact his talent had not deserted him, leading him to believe that for this season he needs to concentrate on his performances during the more difficult weekends.

Speaking in an end-of-season interview that included GPFans, Ricciardo said: "Unless the car changes from a characteristic point of view, I am going to have to still improve some of my weaknesses. That's reality.

"If I want to be in a title fight I've got to still drive this car better on the, call it the bad days or the days that are a bit more difficult.

"It's just all about awareness as well. Sometimes, just doing laps and laps and laps, I fall into, let's say, my old technique or old style.

"It takes a bit more energy to drive in a way that is not natural. I need to just be mindful of when I'm falling back into the stuff that isn't working at the time."

Explaining the strength of his particular style, Ricciardo said: "All it is, it's not like a secret, but it's really the way I can turn into the apex, turn in early and attack the entry.

"To be very progressive with the brake and turn in, that's been a strength of mine."

Ricciardo concedes that was often not the case throughout last season as the car failed to "quite hold on" as he turned in, resulting in him "focusing on approaching the corner a little differently".

He added: "So it's all with the braking and the turn in ultimately, and the way you get to the apex."