Ricciardo goes for the title: 'I think this is my best chance'

Daniel Ricciardo is entering his eleventh Formula One season and moves to McLaren, who finished third in the championship last year. The Australian starts full of confidence with his new employer.

In ten seasons Ricciardo scored seven Grand Prix victories and twice finished third in the championship. All with Red Bull Racing. At McLaren, Ricciardo wants to go one step further. "I think this is my best chance to achieve what I’ve said all along is the goal," Ricciardo told The Sydney Morning Herald. "I didn’t ever want to get to F1 just to get to F1 – I wanted to be world champion, and I still do. McLaren, with the way they’re progressing, feels like the best chance for me to be able to do that, maybe the best chance I’ve had."

After some difficult years, McLaren has managed to find its way back to the top in recent years, Ricciardo also sees. "You can see McLaren’s pathway to getting better, and I feel McLaren is ready for me to be one of the elements they haven’t had to help them win. You never know in this sport, but I'm confident I'm in the right place."

In recent weeks Ricciardo visited the McLaren factory, where he met the mechanics and engineers, among others. "There's a huge buzz," the Australian explains enthusiastically. "There’s a feeling of a hungry team that has gone through some tough times, but the resurgence is happening.”

According to Ricciardo, the team sees that success is on the horizon. "I felt that from the first day I walked through the door. They want more, they’re ready to make that next leap, and it seems realistic. It’s exciting to be a part of that."