'Different behaviour' MCL35M caused Ricciardo's bad start to 2021

The slow start for Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren seemed to speed up in Spain. After not making it to Q2 a race earlier, the Australian qualified seventh on the famous circuit in Barcelona, and set a race as he did before with Red Bull and Renault. An analysis by David Tremayne dives deeper.

Tremayne, experienced Formula 1 journalist and expert, finally saw the old Daniel Ricciardo back on the grid in Spain. According to him Ricciardo logically struggled with the MCL35M, which is significantly different in handling than the driver was used to.

Especially the grip levels were still difficult to predict, forcing Ricciardo to deviate from his aggressive driving style. ‘The MCL35M’s different behaviour in such situations … caused Ricciardo’s attributes to become shortcomings’, argues Tremayne.

Reprogramming

The more sensitive McLaren proved a thorn in Ricciardo's side, but the driver seemed well acclimatised and tuned in to his new car in Spain, Tremayne also knows: ‘Daniel had to learn to reprogramme his natural style to suit the aerodynamics, braking, turn-in and engine braking characteristics of a very different car that is possibly more sensitive to certain driver inputs than the Renault he drove last year.’