Ricciardo under pressure: 'Plenty of drivers whose talent has evaporated'

Daniel Ricciardo has performed disappointingly in his first six months at McLaren. Of course, the Australian needs time to adapt, but Johnny Herbert let Motorsportmagazine.com know that he is shocked.

Problem at McLaren

Where Lando Norris will be a star in his MCL35M in 2021, Ricciardo has a lot more trouble with that. The seven times race winner has the necessary experience but needs more time than expected. The gap to his teammate is huge.

''Daniel on the other hand has been a shocker. We never expected him to struggle so much. I can empathise with him and it's terrible, especially when it's been so long and you still haven't found the answer. Still, we know how good he is and he knows it too,'' said the former Formula One driver.

Ricciardo just like Alesi?

''I've heard Daniel's problems are brake-related, but it's also down to aerodynamics. If it's already causing us headaches, think what it's like for him. But what's happened? He's not too old, he hasn't had a bad crash. There have been plenty of drivers for whom it just evaporated.''

''I go back to Jean (Alesi) again: He was the 'next big thing' and yet he only won one Grand Prix. It didn't work for him, with all his natural talent. The problem is that if it doesn't get better, the rumors start, and once that starts and the tornado accelerates, you're just a passenger,'' Herbert concludes.