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Did Daniel Ricciardo develop bad driving habits during his time with McLaren? Red Bull team principal Christian Horner seems to think so, but McLaren engineer Tom Stallard disagrees.
Ricciardo spent several successful years at Red Bull, concluding his tenure there in 2018 before moving to Renault. However, his stint at Renault was short-lived, and within two seasons, he switched to McLaren. The 2022 season marked a significant change as McLaren announced they would replace Ricciardo with Oscar Piastri, prompting Ricciardo to make his return to Red Bull.
Ricciardo’s Return to Red Bull
After his time at McLaren, Horner made a light-hearted comment suggesting that Ricciardo returned to Red Bull with “bad habits” instilled during his time with the struggling team. “The challenge arises when you’re driving a car that clearly has its limitations; you adapt and push to get the utmost out of it,” Horner explained. “When he returned, it was evident that he had picked up some driving behaviors that weren’t characteristic of the Daniel we knew two or three years earlier.”
Stallard’s Perspective
Stallard, who previously served as Ricciardo’s race engineer at McLaren, counters Horner’s assertions. In the Beyond the Grid podcast, he claimed, “I’d say Daniel drove the car quite normally. Our vehicle required a very specific approach, particularly when it came to cornering. It was challenging for him to adapt due to the precise timing it demanded from the driver, which needed to be executed rapidly.”
Adapting to Team Needs
According to Stallard, Ricciardo didn’t leave McLaren with any detrimental habits. Instead, he tailored his driving style to extract the best performance from McLaren’s unique car setup. “He taught the team a lot by modifying his driving to maximize our car’s capabilities, but clearly, Red Bull felt they required a different approach,” he continued. This statement highlights a larger conversation within Formula 1 about how different teams emphasize various technical demands and driving styles.
The Role of Adaptability in Racing
In the ultra-competitive world of Formula 1, adaptability is key for drivers. The requirement for a unique driving style can vary significantly between teams, and encountering a new car after driving one with contrasting characteristics often leads to transitions that are not straightforward. Ricciardo’s experience serves as a prime example of how changing teams necessitates a delicate balance between maintaining a driver’s inherent qualities while also embracing new demands.
Overall, the debate surrounding Daniel Ricciardo’s driving habits illustrates the complex dynamics of Formula 1 racing and the critical role of adaptability. As fans watch the forthcoming races, it will be intriguing to see how Ricciardo performs as he fully integrates back into the Red Bull ethos.
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