RICCIARDO TELLS AUTO ACTION “I NEED TIME OFF TO GET THE HUNGER BACK!”
Daniel Ricciardo’s future as a Grand Prix driver may have ended with his last Formula One race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but since then the Australian has now signed to rejoin Red Bull – albeit as a test and reserve driver, for 2023.
Before the announcement confirming his move, AUTO ACTION’s Luis Vasconcelos sat down with the man from Perth to try and understand why he struggled so much to get to grips with this year’s McLaren MCL36, but also to revisit his decision to leave Red Bull at the end of 2018.
Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren, 1st place, performs a shoey on the podium during the Italian GP a September 12, 2021 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by LAT Images)
For most of 2022 the speculation that Dan Ricciardo’s future at McLaren was looking grim and when Zac Brown turned up the heat with his public pressure it was apparent that his future with the team was done. It all dragged on for months and in the end it was Daniel himself that admitted he was finished with McLaren.
Open and almost candid about his struggles, Ricciardo took us with him on this journey, explained what was lacking from this year’s car and how the team and himself could never overcome those issues. While admitting a year off is just what the doctor ordered, as he needs to get some time off to rediscover himself (and like he said, “get that hunger back”), it’s clear the Australian still believes there’s more Grand Prix racing in his future. Although as he tells AA, he’s realistic enough to admit that’s something that is not entirely in his hands.
The end at McLaren, what’s beyond 2023
Q – You’ve stated you could have stayed in Grand Prix racing next year but you felt it would be better to take a step back, get the reserve driver role for one year and then decide what you want to do for the future. So, do you rely on just hope that there will be a racing seat for you in 2024 or do you have something realistic to aim for in the next 12 months?
A – I don’t believe Abu Dhabi was the end for me in this sport, on the grid. But I also cannot tell you that I know that as a fact, because I don’t know what the future holds. But my attitude, my mindset is that this is just a little interval, and that, ideally, in 12 months I’m back.
Daniel Ricciardo, final drive with McLaren, in the MCL36, Abu Dhabi GP at Yas Marina Circuit Nov, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, (Photo by LAT Images)
The difficult McLaren
Q – Throughout the year you’ve been telling us the car doesn’t gives you what you want and, no matter what changes have been made, that fundamental issue hasn’t gone away. So, what do you need from a car that the MCL36 never gave you? Is it a feeling, a balance that works for you?
A – If you break it down, it’s probably a feeling. Because it’s through feeling that you ultimately get the levels of grip and understanding of what the car is going to do.
I think the biggest thing that I haven’t had is a feeling of predictability. I sometimes felt like an input that I would do should get me to a certain point in the corner, but maybe it got to a different point and then it’s ‘oh, why is that?’ and then I have to do something else … It’s hard to explain but I was having to be a little bit reactive, instead of anticipating what’s going to happen next.
Q – But does that mean that whatever the car is doing is alien; it’s unnatural to you?
A – Yes but obviously this isn’t all the time and in every corner, but when I try to push the car to the limit, it sometimes doesn’t give me the feeling that I’m in control, at least completely in control.
Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M during the Italian GP at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on Sunday September 12, 2021 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by LAT Images)
Problems locked in the DNA of McLaren’s design philosophy.
Q – You talked about having that feeling already in 2021, when you first started driving for McLaren, but after a bit of an initial struggle you started to close on Lando, sometimes beat him – you won Monza, so it’s fair to say you held your own. So, when you first drove the MCL36, were you shocked that a car that was completely new, designed to new regulations and so on, was an even bigger challenge for you than the MCL35 that, let’s say, was designed around Lando’s feedback and needs?
A – A little bit, yes (laughs). But I was also coming into the season with new regulations, and on one hand I was excited, because that would give me a fresh start, we could improve the car, but, on the other hand, I knew that wouldn’t guarantee it. I was going like, “I hope this is better but maybe it’s the same, maybe it gets worse.”
So, as filled with a bit of optimism, I still had the reality on the other side, so I think that, ultimately this year, the car is difficult to drive but this year the struggles are still similar, so probably we’re looking at something that is more in the core, in the DNA of the McLaren design philosophy.
You see, the team now has a pretty old wind tunnel – there’s probably a few tools that maybe bring it back to getting a similar result, from a feeling, but I think what’s really funny is that people forget, even I forget, is that my very, very first qualifying with McLaren, I actually out qualified Lando. So, in a way, when I had less information, I was better (laughs).
But that’s more an observation. It’s not meaning anything about the team or even me, but maybe at some point we got a little bit confused or complicated. I don’t know, but in saying that, I think that if we knew, we would have fixed it in season. So, that was probably just a coincidence.
Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M, leads Max Verstappen, Sir Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and the rest of the field at the start during the Italian GP at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on Sunday September 12, 2021. (Photo by LAT Images)
Understanding the McLaren MCL36
Q – On previous occasions we’ve talked, you have admitted you were not too keen on the technical side of racing until recently. Do you feel that may have hindered you a bit in the search for what needed to be done to the MCL36 for you to drive it the way you want it?
A – No, because in terms of filtering and understanding what the car is doing, I would say I’m pretty much in tune. But where I think I’m not good is if you were to say, “tell me what are you seeing inside the gearbox”, or “what does this part of the engine do”, I couldn’t tell you.
So, the mechanics of how a car works, I’m not good at – I’ve never been good at – but from getting a feel for the car and explaining what I’m am feeling and what I need to get from A to B, I have confidence I can do it.
If you ask me why I couldn’t get this car from A to B, then that’s the second layer – you have to go back to the factory and coming up with a solution is maybe different. But in terms of having an idea, I have an idea. I have confidence but I’m not going to say I know everything and if you ask “if you knew what every part of the car does and would you be any better if you did”, then the answer is maybe, but, also, maybe that just would fill my mind with a lot of other stuff, so I don’t know.
Daniel Ricciardo Renault R.S.20 during the Emilia-Romagna GP at Imola on Saturday October 31, 2020, Italy. (Photo by LAT Images)
Formula 1 highlights
Q – You’ve done two years at Renault, two years at McLaren and while there were clear highlights, you never achieved the results you were aiming for or the results you were getting at Red Bull until you left. Yes, Red Bull was becoming Team Max by 2018, but have you, at any stage, regretted not having stayed there longer? Even if the attention was focused on Max, you would have still been winning races, so is hindsight just a wonderful thing or do you believe you did the right thing by leaving?
A – I do believe I did the right thing. I really needed to do it but for sure, on paper, you could say that if I had remained in Red Bull I would have got more podiums, probably would have won more races, so I get it when people tell me I should never have left, but I truly believe I needed this.
Also, looking back at 2020, I feel that was one of my best seasons in Formula One, from a self-evaluation, so I did have, let’s say, success post-Red Bull. Where Red Bull is today is a phenomenal place, but my 2018 season with them was a disaster.
It started really well with two wins in six races, but then I didn’t get another podium, I didn’t finish on eight or nine occasions – I’m not throwing back to them, but I was not very happy then.
So, I feel like I needed to try something else, so when I look back at that time and how I felt in 2018, I still stand by it; I still think I did the right move. Did it work out perfectly? No, it didn’t, but I still feel I needed to answer that question of what could be, and it has been answered, I’m totally OK with it. I think Red Bull is going to have three cars on the grid next year, so I’ll be OK (laughs).
Daniel Ricciardo driving the Red Bull Racing RB10 Renault, on his way to his first Grand Prix win, leads Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing RB10 Renault. Sunday 8 June 2014. Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada.Image LAT Photographic.
Why not talk a role with a lesser team in 2023?
Q – Your old sparring partner from Formula Renault, Valtteri Bottas, accepted going from Mercedes to a team that had been in the back of the grid for years, taking on the challenge of bringing it back to the front. Is that a challenge you’d like to take on, from 2024, for example?
A – Maybe in six months’ time that could be more appealing to me. I think that right now and for the last few months, it hasn’t been appealing to me. I’ve certainly tried to do that when I left Red Bull to Renault and then kind of took a step across to McLaren, so I feel like I’ve – I don’t want to say exhausted that route – but I’ve certainly attempted that route for the last four years.
Obviously, there are no top teams available at the moment, so I think I’ll be better off just removing myself a little bit, regrouping and regathering and if there’s nothing available at the top, in six months, then, OK, it will make sense to go and give it another go. But right now I feel I’m better off not being in a seat than jumping into another situation that may or may not work.
The reserve driver role.
Q – What are the plusses of being a reserve driver, apart from the fact you’ll be around, will understand how cars are evolving or even get a chance to do a race or two if needed?
A – I think there’s always opportunities with a a top team to learn, see how they operate, do some tests, simulator work or whatever. But I think the biggest thing for me is just getting some time to myself – I say work on myself but it’s like I need to go and do some self-discovery; it’s just having some free time, do some other things.
The season is so busy now that we never have the opportunity to look at ourselves from a difference angle, analyze things and so on. And doing that, I’ll probably learn more, understand it and I’ll probably miss it more too and that will bring the hunger back. So, it’s more that, for sure, with a top team, I will continue to learn, but the big thing is to have some time for me.
Race winner Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium with the trophy.
Formula One World Championship, Rd7, Canadian Grand Prix, Race Day, Montreal, Canada, Sunday 8 June 2014.
Life and potential work outside of Formula 1
Q – You’ve grown beyond the sport thanks to your personality, to the extent that you were mentioned by the ESPN CEO as someone they would like to have with them, when they announced they were extending their F1 broadcasting deal.
So, will you be exploring other careers in 2023, maybe in the sport, or just focus on trying to get back to racing?
A – I’m open minded to all those things. The only thing I can say I don’t want, is to travel to 24 races, otherwise I might as well race again. So, it will be all finding a balance between it all, and if that means doing a bit of work, for some events, in some Grand Prix, then that could be something that is appealing.
But, ultimately, I want something that fits my personality, something I can have fun with and, if I have to wear a suit and a tie, then that’s probably not my look, or my feel! If the right opportunity comes up and I feel I can have fun, express myself and enjoy it, then I’ll keep an open mind.
Some time to get the hunger back!
Q – What comes now, as the season is over and your future for 2023 is settled?
A – I had to spend a little bit of time in Europe, to sort out everything, go back to Monaco for a little bit; and before Christmas it’s time to go home and enjoy it. Sooner rather than later I’ll get home and will start a mini holiday before I get bored and want to get back to it!
Daniel Ricciardo graphic #3, back at Red Bull Racing
DANIEL RICCIARDO’S GRAND PRIX WINS
Race Circuit Car Teammate
1 2014 Canadian Grand Prix Circuit Gilles Villeneuve RB10 Sebastian Vettel
2 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix Hungaroring RB10 Sebastian Vettel
3 2014 Belgium Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps RB10 Sebastian Vettel
4 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix Sepang International Circuit RB12 Max Verstappen
5 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Baku City Circuit RB13 Max Verstappen
6 2018 Chinese Grand Prix Shanghai International RB14 Max Verstappen
7 2018 Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco RB14 Max Verstappen
8 2021 Italian Grand Prix Monza Circuit MCL35M Lando Norris
