Daniel Ricciardo: "I Believed I Was The Best In The World"

Daniel Ricciardo has opened up on his time with McLaren coming to an end, saying that he will "take some responsibility or accountability" and that he "truly believed he was the best in the world".

McLaren decided to end the Australian driver's contract early at the end of 2022 after his two tumultuous seasons with the team.

During an interview with Speedcafe.com, Ricciardo reflected:

“I’ll always take some responsibility or accountability.

“For many years, I truly believed I was the best, and I am the best in the world, so whatever the situation, I’ll be able to overcome it.

“And obviously with McLaren it was tough for me to do that. So yeah, I was aware that I’m not the perfect driver, I do have weaknesses, so I’ll always hold something on to myself.

“Having a bit of a chance to remove myself from it and now looking back on the last two years, I would have done things differently if I had that time again, or maybe ask more questions or been a little bit more demanding.

“But you also live and you learn, so I don’t look back with regret. That was a situation and I got through it.”

As time went on after the announcement of the eight-time grand prix winner leaving the Woking-based squad, it became apparent that he was not going to be in a permanent seat for the 2023 season. However, he has returned to Red Bull, which he drove for in 2014-2018, as their third driver.

Ricciardo continued:

“And now, getting back into Red Bull, I felt as well I was certainly a little bit… my confidence was probably not what it used to be as well.

“Even I was a little bit probably timid getting into the simulator, trying to downplay how it was going to go.

“But as the day went on, the more comfortable I felt, and the more it just felt like I was kind of back home in a car that I honestly felt comfortable with.

“So yeah, let’s say everything felt like it was pretty recharged after that first day.”

Add us as a preferred source on Google