11 December 2023 , 07:00
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Daniel Ricciardo has angrily hit out at critics of his time driving for McLaren, insisting he had positive spells at the team.
The Australian's two-year stay at McLaren was largely a disappointment, with Ricciardo finishing eighth and 11th in the drivers' championship. While he did win the Italian Grand Prix in 2021, that was about as good as it got, with that win being his lone podium.
In fact, he would amass just 37 points in his second season with the British squad, while team-mate Lando Norris continued to go from strength to strength. Ricciardo was dropped by McLaren a year before his contract was due to expire.
Rookie Oscar Piastri was brought in to take his place, with the youngster impressing in his first season in the sport. Ricciardo, meanwhile, was brought in mid-season to replace Nyck de Vries at Alpha Tauri, five years after leaving parent team Red Bull.
After impressing in his seven races at the junior team, the Australian has taken the opportunity to hit back at his critics. The 34-year-old has insisted he had to deal with numerous setbacks, but is happy to be back in the Red Bull family.
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“I wanted to get some answers, just for my own peace of mind. I would get some positive feedback or encouragement in terms of, ‘I’ve seen what people are saying, they think you’ve forgotten how to drive'," Ricciardo said.
Daniel Ricciardo endured two difficult seasons with McLaren (Getty Images)“It’s bulls**t, you don’t forget how to drive overnight and the kind of, ‘don’t lose your confidence, you’ll find your way back if you want it’ – so there’s definitely some positive stuff like that.
“I was curious because, as much as the McLaren I felt, obviously, it didn’t suit me, I felt like it was certainly compounded over time with my confidence dropping and getting kind of lower and lower, after obviously taking quite a few punches in the gut.
“The thought of just being back in that family and just even having a go on the simulator, having some data with Max again, and then obviously Checo, I was like, ‘okay, even if it’s a simulator, I just kind of want to see if I can still do it and if the car feels the way I want it to feel.”
Ricciardo only scored points in one of his races over the second half of the season just gone. And the Australian is now setting his sights on a full pre-season of preparing for next year's campaign.
“I was happy with the few races I did. The race pace, actually, I was probably more happy with. I think qualifying – some were good, some I wasn’t too happy with. Still a bit to explore on one lap pace," he said.
"But once we settled into race rhythms, I was pretty happy with the feeling of the car and the understanding of it. So, probably to have a more stable 2024 will also help us as a kind of team and group and help the dynamic moving forwards."