Ricciardo spares McLaren: 'No tattoos, I'll come up with something else'

Daniel Ricciardo picked up a podium for Renault in 2020 and for that he gets to choose a tattoo for Cyril Abiteboul. At McLaren, however, they need not fear such a bet for the time being.

Still no tattoo for Abiteboul

The marriage between Ricciardo and Renault only lasted two years, but for Abiteboul, the partnership will always stay with him if all goes well. By losing a bet with Ricciardo, Abiteboul still has to get a tattoo. That still hasn't happened, but Ricciardo also lets it be known that there's nothing to worry about at McLaren.

''No, no tattoos for the people at McLaren. I'll come up with something else. So don't worry, Andreas. You're safe'', Ricciardo joked after the race with Andreas Seidl. According to Motorsport.com Ricciardo, however, also reports that the tattoo at Abiteboul is still not set. ''To be honest I still haven't managed to get Cyril one. So I'll have to sort that out first.''

Strong start at McLaren

Whether that will still happen remains to be seen. Abiteboul lost his job after 2020 at Renault, which opted for a different management under the new name Alpine. Despite ambitious goals, Renault had fallen further and further down the rankings and Abiteboul was blamed for that.

Meanwhile, Ricciardo has completed his first race for his new employer, and it has been reasonably satisfactory. ''I think we started in a positive way. I finished seventh, while I don't feel I drove a good race. That can only mean that there is more to come'', the Australian concluded.