Make-or-break moment for Daniel Ricciardo and his McLaren ambitions in F1 triple-header

It’s not exactly “now or never” for Daniel Ricciardo in his McLaren career, but it’s certainly make-or-break for his 2021 stint in the iconic orange as he braces for a massive Formula 1 triple-header in France and Austria in the next three weeks.

So far in 2021, the Australian driver has clocked up just 26 points in six outings with McLaren. It’s a respectable haul, but not what F1 fans were expecting.

It’s likely not what McLaren was expecting either. Much of preseason talks didn’t just tip Daniel Ricciardo to beat new teammate Lando Norris, the question was by how much. Those expectations appear to have been a little over-eager ⁠— the English youngster boasts 66 points, and sits in fourth in the World Drivers’ Championship.

Among those behind Norris is Ricciardo, back in tenth.

• Read More: F1 French GP Preview: Our Expert Tips & Staking Plan

The question bouncing around the Formula 1 world is simple ⁠— is it okay for seven-time race winner Danny Ricciardo to be taking this long to settle at McLaren?

The Aussie has struggled to make his mark in F1 since leaving Red Bull.

Ricciardo knew he would be up against it in his McLaren switch.

For one, Lando Norris has had two years in the seat already, honing the car to his every twitch and move. The engineers have been hard at work molding the race car into a key extension of the Brit’s body, and it’s paying off this year.

Then there was the rapid-fire switch from Red Bull, and their late-breaking prowess, to the French Renault, and then finally to English racing royalty, McLaren.

“When I first drove the car, I said to myself ‘OK, it’s a different one’,” Ricciardo admitted. “I felt early on it was quite a different car. Different not being bad, different being – ‘I’ve got my work cut out’.”

“I wasn’t discouraged by (the car at first). I just said to myself ‘I’ll have to figure it out’.

“The car is different enough, you need to work a little harder at it, it hasn’t so far come just by circulating and doing laps. I’ve had to adapt a few things with my driving style to help the car. I’m still trying to get on top of that.”

He added: “I’ve been here before, whether it’s to this level, or not, whether it was in F1 or not … Naturally you always have these highs and lows.

“But the good thing with me … I’ll be sad if I need to on Sunday night but then I wake up Monday morning with fresh motivation. I’ll say to myself: ‘This feeling, I don’t like it, what am I going to do to change it?’ I definitely find perspective in the bad days.”

Now the Formula 1 world has the chance to see what Ricciardo will do to change it in a rapid-fire triple header across three back-to-back weekends.

First up, the French Grand Prix.

The Honey Badger has enjoyed mixed results at Circuit Paul Ricard, which returned to the F1 calendar in 2018. First, he clocked up a fifth-place finish with Red Bull, before all but bombing out in 8th in Renault’s home race last year.

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Then comes the first double-race of the season, as the Formula 1 grid races in back-to-back weekends at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on June 27 and July 4.

Ricciardo and Norris could mount a serious challenge for third this season.

The Austrian and Styrian races give Danny a chance to better himself on a track where he’s never enjoyed much luck. He’s never finished above fifth in Austria (in 2017) and finished 10th and 9th in 2020 as he found his feet in the Renault.

This triple header is where Ricciardo must throw off whatever McLaren demons are dogging him. He’s placed 7th, 6th, 9th, 6th, 12th, 9th. Not the worst, but can be better.

The Sporting Base doesn’t think the Australian’s 2021 season is a total write-off if he struggles in France and Austria, but three more floundering results would mark 10 of 23 races without a noticeable improvement for the star.

• Read More: F1 French GP Preview: Our Expert Tips & Staking Plan

It’s a make-or-break moment as the halfway point looms; can Daniel Ricciardo turn up the Formula 1 heat of the past in his new orange rocket and “send it”?

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