Daniel Ricciardo admits 2021 has been one of his hardest years in Formula 1 as he struggles to adapt to his McLaren.
Many thought the Australian and the Woking-based team would be a match made in heaven at the start of the year, but so far it has been anything but with Ricciardo being outclassed by Lando Norris, who has more than double the number of points than the seven-time race winner.
Reflecting on his season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the 32-year-old accepts it has been unlike any he's previously had in F1.
“Definitely. Definitely harder,” he told Speedcafe. “I think it’s the first time I’ve consistently found it difficult.
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“I think sometimes as well, you’ve got to realise and remember that I’m in the elite level of the sport. It shouldn’t be easy.
“So yeah, I’m struggling more than I have before but it’s probably for a reason as well. I am against the best guys, so I’ve just got to lift my game and figure it out.”
Ricciardo has cut a despondent figure on several occasions this year, notably after being lapped by Norris in Monaco and after two tough weekends in Austria.
But the typically smiley Aussie is doing all he can to turn it around.
“It’s still definitely at times frustrating,” he told Motorsport.com. “But I’m probably past the point of being frustrated.
"I think now it’s kind of a reality that I’m still needing to find some more and just be at one with the car. That’s probably the best way to put it.
“I know and I’m aware that it’s probably still gonna be a process, but I didn’t panic at the beginning, I was aware I was losing ground and I was just trying to understand where am I losing and what is it that I need to help me get those three or fourth tenths a lap more.”
With all-new cars coming in 2022, you might think Ricciardo would simply be looking to get this year out of the way before starting fresh next season.
However, he is still keen to use the second half of 2021 to improve.
“I am certainly open-minded in terms of the steps I am able to make,” Ricciardo said.
“I think realistically any upgrades will probably be just like small bits here and there, so I don’t think the development is going to be a game-changer.
"It’s more probably just up to me to see what more time in the car does for my progress with the ‘21 chassis. There is definitely a lot to still learn about this year’s car and the characteristics and to make sure, although the car’s different next year, we want to understand this year’s car so that it gives us even some understanding of where to put it for next year.
“Some things I think will correlate for ‘22. Anything I can learn for this year will be beneficial regardless.”
