Ricciardo explains switch from Renault to McLaren

5 April 2021 at 08:52
Last update 5 April 2021 at 10:49
  • GPblog.com

Daniel Ricciardo made a special switch in 2019. The Australian did extremely well at Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen and was able to re-sign at the end of 2018, but decided to take on a new challenge at Renault. This season, he opted for another switch by leaving for McLaren.

It was certainly not an easy task for Ricciardo to make a choice between Renault and McLaren for the 2019 season. The 31-year-old driver went to Renault with a lot of conviction, because he believed in the project the team was working on. Nevertheless, after two years he decided to seek his salvation elsewhere.

When Ricciardo signed his contract at McLaren, he had the same feeling he had at Renault in 2019. "McLaren were keen to put the dark years behind them and continue to build the team," he said to Formula1.com. "It felt like everything was coming together and that we could slowly build for the next few years. We want to make that step."

McLaren promising

The first season at Renault was not entirely flawless, as Ricciardo finished ninth in the World Cup standings with 54 points. The following year, he fought his way into the battle with the big teams and finished in fifth place. At the end of last season he then opted for a switch to McLaren.

"I think McLaren is the most promising for the coming years. Or course you never know what happens the rest of the year, but I like how things are going at the moment. Everyone is relaxed at McLaren and that's nice." In his first race for McLaren, Ricciardo finished P7, scoring six points.