Norris Not Eager to Team Up With Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren Just ‘Because He’s Good Fun to Be Around’

McLaren will soon move into the 2021 F1 season with a star-studded line-up comprising Lando Norris and the new entrant, Daniel Ricciardo.

Unsurprisingly, the young Briton looked excited ever since the news broke out that the former Red Bull driver will join the team. Hence, one might assume that the excitement has everything to do with the Australian’s cheeky off-track attitude.

But that’s not it.

Apparently, Norris primarily had an entirely different reason for his enthusiasm in working alongside the Honey Badger.

What did Norris say?

Speaking to McLaren, Norris opened up that he is keen on understanding how the vastly experienced Ricciardo approaches an F1 weekend.

“I’d say teaming up with Daniel. Not because he’s good fun to be around, but because I like to work out the approach of my teammates,” the Briton said.

Norris is definitely an incredible team player, as it was evident over his two-year outing with the Spaniard, Carlos Sainz. During their stint, the duo’s growth was astonishing to watch.

Norris, in specific, looked like an entirely different driver when the 2020 season commenced; he was pacy throughout the year. Eventually, he played a crucial role in handing McLaren their first top-three finish in seven years.

Hence, this points to just one question, how much is Norris going to grow while racing alongside a race-winning teammate like Daniel Ricciardo?

Daniel Ricciardo has a lot of experience: Norris

Ricciardo had one of the best phases of his career while racing at Red Bull. The Australian already holds a total of seven wins and 13 podiums during his stint at the Austrian-outfit.

Hence, Norris revealed that he is curious to see how Ricciardo drives his F1 car. “Daniel has a lot of experience,” he said.

“He’s raced with big teams, scored plenty of podiums, and knows how to win Grands Prix. I’m curious to see how he drives a car and what his approach is.”

Ricciardo’s entry into McLaren has undoubtedly boosted the team’s confidence, and the expectations from the Australian are sky-high.

So, will the former Renault driver live up to the hype and carry the British team to more successes in F1?

Could Ricciardo turn up as the trump card in helping McLaren return to their winning ways?

Well, let’s see what the future holds.

Read More: Daniel Ricciardo vs Lando Norris: Who’ll Have the Bragging Rights for McLaren in 2021?