Ricciardo: "With Ferrari you never know"

Battle with Ferrari

Last season it was a neck-and-neck race between McLaren and Ferrari, with the Italian team eventually coming out on top for third place in the Constructors' Championship after a couple of good Grands Prix. Ricciardo expects Ferrari will be even stronger next year.

"Carlos [Sainz] adapted to the team very quickly in the first year, in this second year he will take another step. With Charles [Leclerc] it's a big battle within the team. Actually I don't really mean struggle, they have a great driver line-up, and for us it's a big competitor for us. With Ferrari you never know, maybe this year they are fighting for the title," Ricciardo said as quoted by AS.

Ricciardo's wishes taken into account in MCL36

Last year was Ricciardo's first season in the service of McLaren. He often could not keep up with teammate Lando Norris, but he expects better performances this year. What also helps is that the Australian himself has helped to develop the MCL36.

"There is something in it from Daniel, but also from Lando. Lando was more comfortable with the car last year, but there are also things I ran into that he agreed with. The development is going in both our directions." Ricciardo has already driven the new car several times in the simulator and it all looks good according to the Perth-based driver. Whether the car performs as well on track, we will only see during the winter tests and the first GP in Bahrain.