Formula 1 young gun Lando Norris has hinted that Daniel Ricciardo’s issues with the McLaren car won’t disappear next year.
It took Daniel Ricciardo several months to adjust to McLaren’s car, and it looks as though the Australian F1 star might have to undergo the entire ordeal all over again in 2022.
Following an underwhelming two-year stint at Renault, Ricciardo signed with McLaren ahead of the 2021 season, partnering with British young gun Lando Norris.
However, it was anything but smooth sailing at first for the 31-year-old.
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Ricciardo was repeatedly bettered by his teammate on race day, with the Perth driver struggling to adapt to the intricacies of the MCL35M’s braking system.
Norris secured three podium finishes in the first half of the 2021 championship – three more than Ricciardo.
But F1 cars will look very different in 2022, with simplified aerodynamics and bigger wheels encouraging more overtaking and closer competition.
Motorsports fans were offered a glimpse of next year’s car with a concept version being unveiled at the British Grand Prix in July.
A significant cut in downforce looks set to be one of the biggest challenges for drivers next season, something Norris has already noticed in the simulator.
“It‘s a very different car to drive. In a way not as nice as this season,” Norris told Motorsport.com.
“But I think hopefully that‘s the same case with every other team as well. And we’ll see, there’s no point trying to think it’s amazing or terrible.
“You just have to do the best job you can and hopefully, next season, we go to the pre-season test with a good car.
“The only car we‘ve seen is the one at Silverstone. The car we have in the factory, it’s not even a car. It’s a drawing and some paper.
“I don‘t think we will see it for many more months, maybe not until next year in a way. We’ve seen some of the drawings and the designs for next season, but every week, it’s something new and something different, because there’s so many different things with the car.
“But every week it‘s very easy to make changes and make it quicker and quicker.”
Ricciardo’s fortunes took a turn at last month’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza, with the Australian clinching his first F1 victory in three years.
But Norris’ remarks serve as a grim warning for the Australian – don’t expect next season to be a walk in the park.
Simulators will be critical for F1 drivers ahead of the 2022 championship, with pre-season testing restricted to just two weeks next year.
The 2021 season will resume this weekend with the Turkish Grand Prix, scheduled to get underway at 11pm AEDT on Sunday.
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