Former drivers Ricciardo and Sainz surprised: 'Hats off'

McLaren surprised Ricciardo

"I mean, I won a race there, so I don't know what you're talking about!" the Australian laughed, referring to his latest win in F1 at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.

On a more serious note, McLaren's recent rise did surprise him. "Obviously, most of my time there was a bit more of a struggle or a challenge. So, look, did I predict this? I'm not going to say yes, because I don't think I did. So I guess from that point of view, it is a bit of a surprise that in two years, less than two years, they are probably currently the quickest package on the grid."

Ricciardo however does not feel like he is missing out on something. "I also don't look at that like, ‘oh man, like if only I could have had that’. That's the sport, that's how it is. And I think as Carlos said before, you take your hat off to them. Anyone in this sport that's doing well and developing and making such a big step in a short amount of time, you have to compliment that."

Sainz knew 'McLaren were going the correct way'

The Spaniard himself did see that the Woking-based formation are going in the right direction. "I wouldn't say I would have ever predicted it. I think when I left McLaren four years ago, I did have the feeling the team was going in the right way and it was a very good place to be and I enjoyed my time there. So, when I left, I left with a feeling that it was more maybe a matter of time."

He concluded by praising his former team. "But I do feel they were the right people at the time to lead that team towards the front of the field again. And yeah, it took three to four years since I left. And especially this last year, I think, is when they've shown the real strength and the big steps, which have come in a very short amount of time, but very, very big."