Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren’s separation at the end of the season has dominated headlines. Ricciardo joined the Woking outfit in 2021, hoping for a powerful partnership. However, after multiple attempts from McLaren and himself, the Australian could not match the team’s expectations.

Before succumbing to the harsh reality, Daniel Ricciardo always had a positive outlook and talked about improving himself. The good-natured Australian made it a point to share the blame for poor results while never speaking ill for the team. However, this approach wasn’t mutual with McLaren’s public criticism of Ricciardo serving as proof.

Now, after terminating his contract, probably looking toward the future, Ricciardo is speaking his mind. The Australian, in an interview with Ziggo Sport, pointed out the inconsistency of his MCL36.

When asked, “How’s racing so far this season?” The outgoing McLaren man said, “It’s not very good. It hasn’t been a good year on the track.”

However, when asked to elaborate, Daniel Ricciardo said, “We finish a weekend and we learn a lot… But then next weekend, it’s another problem… there’s something else. So then, ok, we tick that, there’s something else. So it’s like we take one step forward, but then there’s always one back. It’s hard to have made progress because if we do something but then something else happens.”

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The constant setbacks, which have not been pointed out by Ricciardo in the past, are a major factor in his poor season so far. McLaren’s MCL36 has improved, but the setbacks followed by poor results and the scrutiny can be highly demotivating.

However, even the string of poor results isn’t enough to put the jovial Daniel Ricciardo down, as he mentions in his interview.

Daniel Ricciardo gives an insight into his mentality following the McLaren ousting

Not everyone can take the pressure of being at the pinnacle of motorsport. Ricciardo talks about the strong mentality a driver needs to survive in the sport.

When asked, “What does it do to you as a human being and as a driver?” regarding the setbacks, Daniel Ricciardo replied, “It challenges you mentally, for sure! But fortunately, I’m quite a positive guy and my mentality is like that. Sunday night I’m probably quite sad, but Monday, I wake up and I have the…”

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Ricciardo, even after his public criticism and treatment, has shown up to the paddock time and again with a big smile and a positive attitude. His response to the whole scenario can be taken as a lesson on stress management.