AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

McLaren Engineer Fires Back: Ricciardo Didn’t Pick Up ‘Bad Habits’ at Woking

Redação by Redação
October 17, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Max Verstappen thanks Daniel Ricciardo for stealing fastest lap at the Last-Minute

SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE - SEPTEMBER 22: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Visa Cash App RB on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 22, 2024 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202409220357 // Usage for editorial use only //

The saga surrounding Daniel Ricciardo’s inconsistent performance during his time at McLaren has once again sparked debate, this time between Red Bull’s Christian Horner and McLaren’s race engineer Tom Stallard. Horner recently claimed that Ricciardo “picked up bad habits” during his two-season stint with McLaren, a period where the Australian struggled to find the form that had once made him a top-tier Formula 1 driver.

After leaving Red Bull in 2018 and brief spells with Renault, Ricciardo joined McLaren in 2021, bringing hopes that his experience and tenacity would help the team return to the front of the grid. However, despite clinching a single, spectacular victory at Monza, Ricciardo’s tenure at McLaren was marked by inconsistency, culminating in an early exit at the end of 2022.

Upon his return to AlphaTauri (now VCARB) in 2023, Horner pointed fingers at McLaren, claiming that Ricciardo had developed detrimental habits that impacted his performance. According to Horner, Ricciardo’s struggles with McLaren’s car setup left him misaligned with Red Bull’s competitive standards.

However, McLaren’s race engineer, Tom Stallard, strongly pushed back against these claims. Stallard argued that Ricciardo wasn’t driving poorly but rather that McLaren’s unique car setup required precise techniques that were difficult for the 35-year-old to master.

“I disagree,” Stallard stated firmly. “I would say actually that Daniel was driving the car very normally, and if anything, our car required some quite specific actions, primarily around the turn-in phase of the corner, which he struggled to adapt to because they require very, very precise timing from the driver.”

Stallard highlighted the complexity of McLaren’s car, particularly the demands it placed on Ricciardo to execute sharp, well-timed movements during corner entry. These nuances clashed with Ricciardo’s usual driving style, leading to his performance struggles. Nonetheless, Stallard emphasized that Ricciardo didn’t pick up bad habits but rather faced difficulties adapting to McLaren’s distinctive driving requirements.

Despite the disappointing results, Stallard expressed admiration for Ricciardo’s positivity and professionalism, underscoring the personal rapport they had during their time together.

“Working with Daniel was great because he’s just a really lovely guy. He’s a really positive guy to be around,” Stallard reflected. “It’s well known that we didn’t achieve what we wanted to achieve with him at McLaren, but that was down to the specific demands of our car, not any ‘bad habits’ he picked up.”

Ricciardo’s struggles have been further compounded in 2024 as he faces another challenging season, having been replaced by ahead of the United States Grand Prix after managing to score points in only three of the 18 races this season. While the future of his Formula 1 career remains uncertain, the debate over his McLaren tenure continues to divide opinions in the paddock.

Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

NASCAR Playoff Shakeup: Shocking Upsets and Dominating Performances Redefine Round of 12 Rankings!
Motorsports

NASCAR Playoff Shakeup: Shocking Upsets and Dominating Performances Redefine Round of 12 Rankings!

NASCAR Playoff Shake-Up: The Dramatic Round of 12 Revealed After Bristol! The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs have officially entered a...

by Carl Smith
September 16, 2025
Daniel Suarez Escapes NASCAR Chaos: Camping Trip with Wife Sparks Much-Needed Reset
Motorsports

Daniel Suarez Escapes NASCAR Chaos: Camping Trip with Wife Sparks Much-Needed Reset

Joe Puetz

by Harry Stone
September 16, 2025
George Russell Shatters Mercedes Myths: McLaren Poised to Challenge F1 Dominance in 2026
Motorsports

George Russell Shatters Mercedes Myths: McLaren Poised to Challenge F1 Dominance in 2026

Title: George Russell Challenges the Hype: Is Mercedes Really Ahead of McLaren for F1 2026? In the high-octane world of...

by Simon Monroy
September 16, 2025
Alonso’s Shocking Monza Retirement: Debris Destroys Suspension in Heartbreaking Turn of Events!
Motorsports

Alonso’s Shocking Monza Retirement: Debris Destroys Suspension in Heartbreaking Turn of Events!

Shocking Revelation: The Bizarre Cause Behind Alonso's Disastrous Monza Exit! In a twist that left fans and experts alike scratching...

by Carl Harrison
September 16, 2025

Recent News

NASCAR Playoff Shakeup: Shocking Upsets and Dominating Performances Redefine Round of 12 Rankings!

NASCAR Playoff Shakeup: Shocking Upsets and Dominating Performances Redefine Round of 12 Rankings!

September 16, 2025
Daniel Suarez Escapes NASCAR Chaos: Camping Trip with Wife Sparks Much-Needed Reset

Daniel Suarez Escapes NASCAR Chaos: Camping Trip with Wife Sparks Much-Needed Reset

September 16, 2025
George Russell Shatters Mercedes Myths: McLaren Poised to Challenge F1 Dominance in 2026

George Russell Shatters Mercedes Myths: McLaren Poised to Challenge F1 Dominance in 2026

September 16, 2025
Alonso’s Shocking Monza Retirement: Debris Destroys Suspension in Heartbreaking Turn of Events!

Alonso’s Shocking Monza Retirement: Debris Destroys Suspension in Heartbreaking Turn of Events!

September 16, 2025

Newsletter

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.