Daniel Ricciardo admits that 2021 and the move to McLaren is proving harder than he ever imagined.

Though, for the most part, the infectious grin and schoolboy humour is still there, there is no arguing that behind it all one can sense that Daniel Ricciardo is uncomfortable, hurting.

Moving to McLaren seemed the obvious career choice, and in no time at all the boy from Perth, WA would be de facto team leader, charged with returning the Woking outfit to a revival of its glory days.

However, as the sport heads into the summer break, the popular Australian is still struggling, consistently out-performed by his younger and less experienced teammate.

It isn't the car, we are told, team boss Andreas Seidl having revealed that Ricciardo has had two changes of chassis to date, to no avail.

And while the speculation continues, most pointing to his actual style of driving, admitting that he's as nonplussed as the rest of us, Ricciardo reveals that 2021 is proving to be the toughest season of his career.

"I think it's the first time I've consistently found it difficult," he tells Speedcafe.com. "For sure over the years you have bad weekends, and you might even have two bad ones on a trot, but then you kind of get it right... where I feel like it's been definitely more bad, or more or less impressive than good.

"That's obviously not always easy to take, but it is what it is," he adds.

"I think sometimes as well, you've got to realise and remember that I'm in the elite level of the sport... it shouldn't be easy.

"So yeah, I'm struggling more than I have before but it's probably for a reason as well.

"I am against the best guys, so I've just got to lift my game and figure it out."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 14/08/2021 1:29

"Andrea Stella's latest explanation finally gives us a glimpse of the McLaren car dilemma. Following that, I would put the problems that Daniel is having squarely on the McLaren in a ratio of 90/10%. It is highly complex and Ricciardo is going to have a major problem next year if that same McLaren theory is carried forward as it has done for the past few years. Norris apparently struggled with it for the last two years. I wondered what it was that induced Brown and Seidl to say that Norris had made a step up? Now I know. It was the ability to finally come to grips with the inherent specialist needs to get optimum performance out of that car."

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2. Posted by kenji, 13/08/2021 0:33

"Seeing as we are doing some analysis of Ricciardo's problems with getting out of the McLaren what everyone expected, there have been a couple of comments which I am not too clear on. Seidl has said that Daniel's had two changes to the monocoque during the first half of the season. Ricciardo seemed a bit vague as he didn't seem to know the details of when these events occurred and I read into that that McLaren didn't tell him at the time? He also said that he wouldn't mind going back to one period where he hinted that he had felt an improvement? Now I may be seeing some shadows here and maybe someone cannot elaborate further on my interpretations...."

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3. Posted by Ted Baker, 12/08/2021 14:35

"I think this whole episode shows how superb Lando is. His confidence is growing month by month and is proving to be just a super star, brilliant qualifying, keeps out of trouble, is amazingly consistent, has shown he can fight superbly with anyone and keeps it on the black stuff. He is completely out driving Daniel and this is now affecting his confidence similar to when Max out drove Daniel. I think I have to agree with Andreas it is not the car as this is his third.
A visit to a sports psychologist may do the trick!!
"

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4. Posted by Wokingchap, 12/08/2021 10:41

"Sorry Grumpy Grandad, i didnt get the joke...i'm a year behind!
"

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5. Posted by Wokingchap, 12/08/2021 8:35

"@Grumpy grandad..... i tend to disagree, the Honda engines are doing absolutely great with the others. The prob is either Daniel or the car, or a bit of both."

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6. Posted by Grumpy Grandad, 11/08/2021 12:23

"The car is perfect it's the Honda Engine, sorry, Daniel that's the issue."

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7. Posted by Motorsport-fan, 10/08/2021 13:22

"One of Daniels strengths has been the ability to dive bomb other cars under braking, if he cannot do that then that is surely a car issue, we all know how good he is thats why Mclaren signed him."

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8. Posted by Wokingchap, 10/08/2021 13:16

"I do wonder, as many others do, how much of Daniel's problem is his own and how much is the car, even though Mr.Seidl says it's not the car. I really hope they get it sorted soon."

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"I've just got to lift my game and figure it out," admits Ricciardo

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