“He used to banned the use of caffeine on the team, and now it’s an open shop!” Ricciardo gasped when asked what had built the team’s confidence in the past few weeks.
But while the caffeine explanation is certainly far-fetched, it’s not the influence Seidl had to steer McLaren out of the doldrums into a squad that’s now at least sometimes a thorn in the side of title contenders Mercedes and Red Bull.
Because what is important to understand at McLaren is that his advance on the starting grid did not come about simply because the team got a little more power out of their car.
It was pretty much the case that the biggest change was in the attitudes of the team itself. It is a force that ensures that everyone pulls together with the right approach: factory employees, engineers, mechanics, drivers, team management and other crews are there for each other.
This is in contrast to the difficult period after Honda’s re-entry into Formula 1 in 2015 or the last few years of Ron Dennis’ involvement before that, when internal politics were difficult to find a way around.
As Lewis Hamilton emphasized after battling Lando Norris for victory in the Russian Grand Prix: “It’s good to see them reunited.”
What Seidl has successfully at the top is a team that has got their faith back, which has helped deliver a better car, which in turn helps to further boost faith. It’s a positive cycle that produces F1 results.
Ricciardo explains: “We are obviously in a good mood and are building trust.
“I think the team has already built this up over the past few years and is just continuing down this path. I think everyone settles in on the team and I think they just grow together. So just a good group: a good group of boys and Sheilas! “
Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren, Lando Norris, McLaren celebrate with team members
Photo by: McLaren
The role of the driver should not be underestimated, because McLaren has Ricciardo and Norris, two characters who perfectly match the requirements of the team. You’re quick, personable, happy, and ready to go the extra mile.
In the case of Norris, he’s even part of the furniture in the team’s Woking factory.
“I’ve seen the changes in the team and I live too close, three minutes or so from the factory, so I’m always there,” he says.
“The other week I was in there almost every day. So I see everyone there, I even see people in the golf club. I see people around me because I’m always at dinner and all – and sometimes I even have dinner with some of them.
“I also like going to the different departments, just by chance and not because I have to. I’m doing it because I want to go and see how everyone is doing and say hello.
“It just makes them feel like they’re more part of the team and not just working for someone.
“I want you to feel part of it too, and I think Daniel does too. We’re a big group, a big family.
“They are there for us and we are there for them. They want to help us, we want to help them. And we want to see each other successful and be successful together. “
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But McLaren isn’t just lucky that Norris lives nearby so he can stop by. Ricciardo’s commitment was also great, despite the complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Ricciardo said, “It’s really about building relationships.
“It was a little more difficult with COVID. Don’t get me wrong, on race weekends it’s nice to take the crew out for dinner and just get to know each other better.
“Ultimately, we all share the same passion and you know that you are there and somehow pursuing the same goal. I think it’s important to share everything.
“So we had to feed it a bit differently, but thanks to video calls and group chats, we can still build relationships.”
And it is this mix of motivated people with a united spirit, connected with the right people in the right places, on a wave of progress driven by the contribution of drivers on and off the track that is driving McLaren forward.
Ricciardo added: “I kind of don’t want to take any of the credit and I think he probably won’t want to take all of the credit with Andreas either, but what he and others on the team have built over the past few years” I think they put really good people in a few years ago and they all support one another.
“There is no hierarchy or anything like that. It’s the kind of culture where when someone falls, you pick them up and move forward together. And I feel that.
“I think everyone on the team feels really privileged to be part of McLaren.”
Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M, 1st place, wins on the pit wall to the delight of his team
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
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