McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo believes that the battle against with Ferrari helped his team in 2021, even if it couldn’t defend third place
It wasn’t just between Mercedes and Red Bull that the 2021 Formula One season was close. Ferrari and McLaren also engaged in a sometimes close battle for third place in the Constructors’ Championship throughout the year, until the Scuderia pulled away in the final third of the season and manifested its position
Daniel Ricciardo, who had a rather unremarkable first season with McLaren in large parts, enjoyed his team’s battle against their Maranello rivals, even if they ended up losing out. “The fact that it’s Ferrari is a cool story from the outside,” the Australian thinks.
The 32-year-old knows: “These two teams have had a difficult couple of years, but they are two of the biggest teams around. And now they’re coming back and fighting again. Just imagine if it was for first place! I think that’s really the story that a lot of fans want. “
Fight with Ferrari an important fixture for the team
A look at the past shows: The rivalry between McLaren and Ferrari is one of the most traditional rivalries in Formula 1, spanning several decades.
Famous duels between the two brands include the duele between James Hunt and Niki Lauda in the 1970s, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in 1990 and more recently the battles between Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen or Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa in 2008.
2021 the duel with Ferrari had given his team clear and concrete goals, Ricciardo explains. After all, the top two teams, Mercedes, were out of reach. “It’s always better when you have something to fight for,” stresses the Australian.
Ricciardo: “Were focused on beating them “
“If we were in this lonely battle for third place and Red Bull and Mercedes were too far ahead and Ferrari too far behind, then it would be less exciting, I think. I like having a target and something to chase. That was good.”
“Obviously we focused on them as well and tried to beat them, but I think that’s more a team thing,” Ricciardo continued, adding, “I think for me personally as a driver it doesn’t matter what colour the car is. If you think you can beat them, then you will try.”
“But when the team has that goal and that fight in mind, it creates a little bit more…. I don’t want to say it’s motivating, but yeah, there’s a goal so you have something to work towards every weekend and that doesn’t allow any of us to get complacent,” he explained of the duel.
