McLaren Team Principal Andreas Seidl says Daniel Ricciardo’s recent on-track form is “encouraging” for the team.
Ricciardo joined McLaren for the 2021 Formula 1 season, but has struggled to adapt to the car throughout the year.
At the Italian Grand Prix last month, Ricciardo claimed his first race win for the squad, leading team-mate Lando Norris home for a McLaren one-two.
After his victory, Ricciardo ended two of the following three races in the top five, which included a fifth-place result last weekend in the United States.
Ricciardo managed to hold off Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz until the chequered flag in Austin, benefitting McLaren in its Constructors’ fight against the Italian squad.
“It was most definitely a very strong weekend from Daniel and I think it’s fair to say, together with Monza, it was probably his strongest weekend together with us,” Seidl said.
“Maybe even fair to say that it was his best weekend so far, on a track that has a lot of different corner types.
“I’m very happy with what he could pull off this weekend, it was a great performance from his side today to keep Carlos behind the entire race and being under massive pressure.
“So happy with that. It’s just another confirmation that since the summer break he continues to improve and find more comfortable in the car.
“It’s good, it’s encouraging and at the same time he is saying there is still a lot more to come, which is good.”
Seidl added that Ricciardo is still not fully comfortable with the car, giving the team confidence that there is more performance to come from him going forward.
“I think he’s saying himself, I don’t think he’s fully comfortable in our car yet in any condition or track layout, or situation,” Seidl said.
“With him now getting more and more used to it, spending more time in our car, doing laps, I think it’s just natural that there is still a lot more to come from this side, which is obviously encouraging.
“It was a great weekend from his side here in Austin and very strong drive today in the race where he showed why we wanted to get him onboard.”
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