Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo — Photo: © LAT Images

McLaren

Norris "mind soothing" struggling Ricciardo

Ricciardo is enduring another tough season

Sam Hall

Saturday 30 July 2022 05:00

Lando Norris has rebuffed suggestions he is playing mind games on Daniel Ricciardo and is instead "mind soothing" his McLaren team-mate.

Ricciardo has struggled since joining McLaren at the start of last year, and although confirming he will see out his contract with the team in 2023, rumours persist of a potential exit.

The drivers' standings highlight the scale of the Australian's problems as Norris lies seventh on 70 points, while Ricciardo is five place and 51 points adrift.

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Asked to comment on suggestions he is playing mind games on Ricciardo, Norris said: “In what way? What mind games can I play? No, it is the opposite. I’m trying to help him as much as I can.

"It is for the benefit of us as a team to try to beat Alpine at the end of the day.

“He sees everything that I see in terms of data and everything. I’m offering more help than I normally would, let’s say.

“If you were fighting for a world championship, I’m saying more things than I would do just because that is what we need for the team. That is what I want for the team at the minute.

“No, it’s the opposite of mind games, whatever that is - mind soothing.”

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