Did McLaren come out ahead with Daniel Ricciardo?

If we focus on the numbers, McLaren is doing very well: while Carlos Sainz has only a second place as his best finish and a total of two podiums, Daniel Ricciardo has won seven races for 31 podiums over the course of his career and has already finished twice on the podium in the Drivers’ Championship (2014 and 2016).

However, the relationship between Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris was essential in McLaren’s resurgence over the two seasons. When they arrived in Woking at the beginning of 2019, both men joined a team adrift after the ordeal of the Honda era and Fernando Alonso’s moody disposition. However, the chemistry quickly clicked, and the results followed. The team finished the season in third place in the Constructors’ Championship, which hadn’t happened since 2012.

For Andrea Stella, the competition director, one of the keys to this revival can be found in the close relationship between the two men in the cockpit: The level of collaboration between the two has been incredible. It’s one of the reasons they are so aligned on track. When there is open and transparent dialogue between teammates, it elevates their level because they can directly compare and quickly identify the car’s weaknesses or how to better approach a turn. This has been made possible by the personal qualities of Carlos and Lando. I hope the environment we have built within the team encourages openness and trust.

But will it still be the same in 2021? Indeed, when Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz became teammates, they were at a relatively established stage of their careers: Lando Norris was a young rookie, while Carlos Sainz was looking to establish himself after having to leave the Red Bull program due to a lack of opportunities, and then Renault because of Daniel Ricciardo’s arrival.

The Australian arrives at McLaren as a clear leader since he has ten seasons in F1 and will already be joining his fifth team. He is often ranked among the top three fastest drivers on the grid. James Key, McLaren’s technical director, makes no secret of who will be the team’s reference point: He is very easy to get along with, but he is extremely determined. This has a positive effect within any team. He will be a very good reference point for us. With Lando, we will have one of the best duos in the paddock.

This necessarily raises the question of whether the relationship between the new teammates will be as good or if tensions will arise. Andrea Stella is well aware that the “bromance” of the past two seasons is unlikely to be repeated next year: « From my point of view, the most important thing is that we maintain the conditions we have created to enable this high level of collaboration between Carlos and Lando. It’s not about preserving these conditions but adapting them. Daniel is not Carlos and his relationship with Lando will be different. It might be similar but it won’t be the same. We need to be aware of that and adapt to maintain this level. »

It should not be forgotten that McLaren will now benefit from the Mercedes engine, still the benchmark in the field. While this has forced the team to use many development tokens, it offers interesting prospects. If great results are within reach, it’s certain that these great beasts that are the drivers will be eager to claim the laurels and not leave them on the other side of the garage. In these conditions, maintaining teamwork or at least antics on the track will be a priority for the team. Daniel Ricciardo proved during his partnership with Max Verstappen that he was not ready to bow down to his teammate and main rival. McLaren’s management will therefore have to walk a tightrope to maintain the right balance within the team.