For McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo it will be a bittersweet 200th Grand Prix start in Belgium on Sunday, a big milestone for the big smiling Australian, but at the same time he comes at a time when his reputation is tarnished.
Before we address the issues ahead, it’s worth noting that Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career began with a Red Bull-funded mid-season launch at HRT that began a decade ago at the 2011 British Grand Prix.
What followed were two learning seasons at Toro Rosso before he was promoted to Red Bull alongside Sebastian Vettel; the upstart who makes the four-time world champion look ordinary. Ricciardo finished third in the championship and Vettel switched to Ferrari at the end of the year.
During this time Daniel has built a reputation as a racing driver and a remarkable overtaking maneuver. Then Max Verstappen came to Red Bull in 2016 and later ousted the underperforming Daniel Kvyat, after which Ricciardo stood against the wall.
At the end of 2018 he decided that there was not enough space in the bull barn for two thoroughbred horses and decided to take the money and “run” to Renault. In short, his racing craft was always there, but without the firepower of a winning team it was a mess in midfield for the 32-year-old from Perth.
Things got worse that year with his move to McLaren, where he was well beaten by Lando Norris due to deplorable poor form. The young Englishman clearly made a big step between seasons, doing great things every weekend and really making Ricciardo look normal.
Therefore this 200th start, which he will celebrate on Sunday, is bittersweet. Ahead of the occasion and the resumption of the season, Ricciardo said: “This is a special weekend for me as I prepare for my 200th Grand Prix.
“If you had told me on my 2011 debut at Silverstone that I had reached 200 Grand Prix, I would certainly have been very excited. It’s a really cool milestone and definitely one to be proud of. I’ll do everything in my power to make it an unforgettable weekend, ”said Ricciardo, who might start this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps with a win against Norris, or at least come close.
“After a few weeks away from Formula 1, I’m looking forward to racing again at Spa, a great track. It’s the perfect route to return to with its high-speed sections and dramatic elevation changes. I’ve been working on the simulator at the factory again this week to prepare for the weekend and I’m ready to take it up again, ”added Ricciardo.
The Big 200 has not gone unnoticed by his team, for which he has 11 starts under his belt, said McLaren F1 boss Andreas Seidl in the team preview: “This Grand Prix weekend is also a special moment for Daniel and the team, as we are celebrating its 200th Grand Prix.
“Reaching this milestone is a really significant achievement and it shows how much experience he has gained over his 10 year career. He’s joining an elite club of drivers by passing 200 grands prix and we look forward to celebrating the weekend with him, ”added Sedil.
Before the Belgian Grand Prix, Ricciardo is in the 2021 World Championship with 50 points after 11 rounds in eighth place, 63 behind team-mate Norris with 113 points and third in the overall standings.
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