The 2021 Formula 1 season has given some decidedly surprising results in terms of internal comparisons to individual teams. In Ferrari, for example, the overtaking operated by Carlos Sainz – in his first year in a red suit – against Charles Leclerc caused quite a stir. To separate the two, however, were just five points, in a championship that did not spare the Monegasque unfortunate episodes. The situation was quite different in McLaren, with Lando Norris who ‘buried’ the new arrival Daniel Ricciardo – definitely more experienced than him in terms of years spent in the Circus – under 45 points behind.
Ricciardo took away the satisfaction of winning an incredible Italian Grand Prix, ironically right in front of his box mate, but overall he came out heavily defeated in the head-to-head with the young British talent. Furthermore, during this winter break, Norris was able to sign a substantial contract renewal which will bind him to McLaren until 2025. The bond between Woking and Ricciardo instead has a deadline set at 2023. Combining all these elements, one could think that the papaya team is taking a well-defined direction, in which the number 1 of the team would be the # 4 of Bristol.
Andreas SeidlMcLaren team principal, however, has denied this hypothesis. The German manager, also keeping faith with the tradition of the team – historically reluctant to impose team orders on their drivers – has made it clear that there are no numbers 1 and numbers 2. “If you want to know if McLaren will have a number 1 driver, my answer is no – he clarified without misunderstanding – my job, together with the whole team, is to ensure that both drivers have equal opportunities and can compete with each other “. A philosophy that, in the intentions of Seidl and CEO Zak Brown, should also help Woking to reduce the performance gap with the other top teams.
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