Daniel Ricciardo described his first three days in McLaren colours at pre-season testing in Bahrain as “really smooth”, with the Australian topping two of the three sessions he ran in.
Ricciardo arrived at McLaren over the off-season but it did not look to take him long to get up to speed driving the MCL35M, with the 31-year-old completing 172 laps across the test.
Although it is usually foolish to read too much into testing, McLaren certainly showed signs of promise and it is no surprise to hear how excited Ricciardo is for the start of the new campaign.
“So that wraps up the test,” he said. “I’m really happy to have got it done reliably with no real issues or concerns, it’s been a really smooth three days.
“I’m really thankful to the team, both here at the track and back at the factory, for putting together a good car for these days at the test. They’ve really made me feel at home, so I’m feeling comfortable and I can’t wait to come back here and get on track for the Bahrain Grand Prix.”
Team principal Andreas Seidl echoed the positivity of Ricciardo and stated that the 2021 field looked “very tight”.
“It’s been a productive pre-season test for us in Bahrain,” he added.
“The reduced number of days meant it was crucial to maximise our running time and we’re pleased with the amount of work we’ve been able to complete. Lando’s feedback gave us a good benchmark on the MCL35M compared to our previous car, while Daniel was able to get more familiar with the car and provide useful data and insight for the engineers.
“The conditions out on track were slightly different to what we’re used to here in Bahrain. Running during the day means the track temperatures are much higher than usual, and the sandstorm on Friday evening proved an interesting challenge for the team and drivers. Despite this, we completed our run plans as expected throughout the weekend, with both drivers covering 328 laps over the three days.
“The team, both here in Bahrain and back at the factory, has done an excellent job alongside our Mercedes colleagues to deliver a reliable car, which is crucial to a productive test. Thanks to Lando and Daniel for their hard work and valuable feedback during this pre-season test. We head back to Woking to analyse all the data and make our final preparations before we return to Bahrain for the start of the season.
“Once again, the competition is looking very tight between the teams. The stability of the regulations makes it likely that we’re in for another close season of Formula 1, with plenty of battles ahead. As always, we appreciate all the support of our brilliant fans and our superb partners from around the world, which we carry with us as we embark on an exciting season ahead.”
Ricciardo will make his McLaren debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28.
#F1Testing, out. 🏁
A big weekend for the team, great effort all-round. Bring on #BahrainGP! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/A7Ep7OMkQp
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) March 14, 2021
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Ricciardo: It has been a really smooth three days - Grand Prix 247
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