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

Brad Keselowski Stunned by Shocking Stat: Six Former Drivers Thrive in Cup Series Playoffs!
Motorsports

Brad Keselowski Stunned by Shocking Stat: Six Former Drivers Thrive in Cup Series Playoffs!

Lon Horwedel

by Virgilio Machado
September 15, 2025
Chase Elliott’s Heart-Stopping Playoff Survival: How He Defied the Odds at Bristol!
Motorsports

Chase Elliott’s Heart-Stopping Playoff Survival: How He Defied the Odds at Bristol!

Joe Puetz

by Carl Harrison
September 15, 2025
Kyle Larson’s Bristol Battle: Unraveling the Wild Strategy Behind NASCAR’s Most Unpredictable Track
Motorsports

Kyle Larson’s Bristol Battle: Unraveling the Wild Strategy Behind NASCAR’s Most Unpredictable Track

Randy Sartin

by Simon Monroy
September 15, 2025
Max Verstappen Breaks Boundaries: F1 Faces Unprecedented Chaos at Azerbaijan Grand Prix!
Motorsports

Max Verstappen Breaks Boundaries: F1 Faces Unprecedented Chaos at Azerbaijan Grand Prix!

Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

by Harry Bright
September 15, 2025

Recent News

Magui Corceiro Girlfriend of Lando Norris Sends Internet Into Meltdown With Daring New Photoshoot in ‘TOPLESS’

Magui Corceiro Girlfriend of Lando Norris Sends Internet Into Meltdown With Daring New Photoshoot in ‘TOPLESS’

September 15, 2025
Brad Keselowski Stunned by Shocking Stat: Six Former Drivers Thrive in Cup Series Playoffs!

Brad Keselowski Stunned by Shocking Stat: Six Former Drivers Thrive in Cup Series Playoffs!

September 15, 2025
Chase Elliott’s Heart-Stopping Playoff Survival: How He Defied the Odds at Bristol!

Chase Elliott’s Heart-Stopping Playoff Survival: How He Defied the Odds at Bristol!

September 15, 2025
Kyle Larson’s Bristol Battle: Unraveling the Wild Strategy Behind NASCAR’s Most Unpredictable Track

Kyle Larson’s Bristol Battle: Unraveling the Wild Strategy Behind NASCAR’s Most Unpredictable Track

September 15, 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.