It took Daniel Ricciardo nearly three years to win a Formula 1 Grand Prix again this Sunday at Monzao. The Australian, at the worst at the start of the season in his new team, is now at eight victories. For McLaren, this is the first since 2012. A real renaissance.
He is one of the most popular drivers on the circuit. Evidenced by the rain of compliments he received after his victory this Sunday at the Grand Prix de Monza. While last year, it was Pierre Gasly who created the surprise by winning on the Italian circuit, this year it was Daniel Ricciardo who won his eighth career victory at the wheel of the orange McLaren. A surprise victory that is a rebirth for the 32-year-old Australian in great difficulty during the first part of the season, which saw him find himself in the shadow of his new teammate Lando Norris. The latter had chained the podiums, with the key to a very good fourth place in the drivers’ standings when the native of Perth was only ninth place before Monza behind a Pierre Gasly always so regular.. But here is the summer truce programmed after the 12th round of the season and especially this victory in Hungary of Esteban Ocon gave ideas to the Australian pilot, just as they allowed him to question himself and find the loopholes. in the adaptation that was his to his new team as to his new car. Fourth in the Belgian Grand Prix despite the few laps contested, it was above all his qualification, obtained in dire conditions, which had marked the spirits. And even if at the GP of the Netherlands, the McLarens were absolutely not in the game, a clear improvement in the pace of Ricciardo was felt.
Today meant the world to Daniel, Lando, Zak, Andreas and the entire team.
None of this would have been possible without you, the McLaren fans. 🧡 Hope you enjoyed that one. 😁#FansLikeNoOther #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/WJj3OXsudB
– McLaren (@ McLarenF1) September 12, 2021
Almost ten years without a win for McLaren
Of Italian origin, the person concerned has endeavored to make them reflect on the Monza circuit. Acclaimed by the crowds throughout the weekend, he was first fifth in qualifying on Friday, then third the next day after a super start in sprint qualifying on Saturday. A flight to show in all the schools that he was able to repeat this Sunday by taking advantage of Bottas’ start from the back of the grid to start from second place and immediately take the best on Verstappen. The hero of the Italian stage then dominated the race until the end without being threatened by any other driver. His impatient young team-mate Lando Norris had asked repeatedly on the radio to be able to go ahead, but McLaren stuck to his initial strategy and maintained his confidence in Ricciardo, if only to reward him for his weekend. perfect end. The Australian thus offers his first victory for the Woking team since Jason Button’s success in 2012 at the Brazilian Grand Prix. René from his ashes in Monza, the phoenix Ricciardo does not intend to stop there.
