Ricciardo is still searching for solutions before Baku

This season, Daniel Ricciardo has not been able to close the gap that existed between him and Lando Norris last year. On these new 2022 cars, the Australian clearly does not seem more comfortable, while Lando Norris continues to prove his talent behind the wheel of this MCL36.

Faced with this lack of performance, the team and driver are trying to find solutions. Among them, the simulator, which has become a key tool in the development of drivers. While nothing will ever replace actual track time, the simulator still allows for finding solutions. And that’s precisely the choice made by McLaren and Ricciardo in preparation for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

« We are going to do some work on the simulator before heading to Baku and then we hope to take another small step in the upcoming races for Daniel to feel 100% comfortable with the car – especially when it comes to qualifying, when you have to push the car to its absolute limit, » says Andreas Seidl, team principal.

Last year, with all the incidents that occurred in the Grand Prix in Baku, Daniel Ricciardo managed to score two points and finish in ninth place. Lando Norris, on the other hand, finished in fifth position. This season, even more so than in the previous edition, the Australian is forced to perform well, as he appears to be in danger of losing his seat at the Woking team in 2023.