“I Didn’t Have My Head Up My A**”- Daniel Ricciardo Explains How McLaren Stint “Humbled” Him

“I Didn’t Have My Head Up My A**”- Daniel Ricciardo Explains How McLaren Stint “Humbled” Him

Daniel Ricciardo endured a torrid two-year stint at McLaren, a team he joined in 2021 with great expectations on his shoulders. Initially, he signed a deal that would keep him on the team until the 2023 season, but a string of underwhelming results and his gap with Lando Norris made the team pull the plug early.

Ricciardo, who always considered himself one of F1’s best drivers, admitted to getting humbled by this experience. It made Ricciardo realize that despite what he believed in, he wasn’t perfect.

“I don’t want to say I got humbled,” the 33-year-old said as quoted by The Athletic. “Because that’s probably too dramatic.  “I didn’t have my head up my a**. But in a way, I got humbled, and I did realize that OK, I’m not perfect.”

After losing out on his place in F1, Ricciardo couldn’t find a place for himself on this year’s grid. The Aussie returned to Red Bull as a third driver behind Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez and is spending the season from the sidelines for the first time since 2011.

Humility will help Daniel Ricciardo make F1 return

After his nightmarish McLaren spell, Ricciardo has accepted the fact that his F1 career won’t pan out the way he always wanted it to. He may not be in command of the situation, and fight for wins and podiums all the time.

Ricciardo said that his acceptance of the situation is what will help him find his way back into F1. The Perth-born driver still wants to compete for wins and be on top, But, Ricciardo won’t let his “ego or pride” get in the way.

“It’s accepting that it’s not always going to be perfect,” he added. “It’s just a reality of life.”

Ricciardo is much happier after leaving McLaren for Red Bull

Ricciardo is not a full-time driver currently, and has only appeared for commercial events representing Red Bull so far this season. Despite not driving in F1, Ricciardo feels that being away from the spotlight has helped him immensely.

Friends and family noted the change in Ricciardo’s mood, and let him know that he looks much happier this year, than he did during his spell at McLaren. The fact that others are noticing the change convinced Ricciardo that being away from the spotlight this season was the right thing to do.

 

Post Edited By: Somin Bhattacharjee

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Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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