Marc Surer has revealed the reason for Daniel Ricciardo’s comeback in the second half of the season.
Ricciardo has a first half to forget at his new team in McLaren, being outperformed by his teammate Lando Norris. The summer break came and went, and it seems a different Ricciardo has emerged after it.
He took a stunning victory at the Italian GP, with Norris taking second place to lock out a 1-2 for McLaren. The victory meant McLaren ended a streak of 170 winless races, and it all came when Ricciardo returned to form.
Surer revealed the reason for Ricciardo’s comeback, and said that it all boiled down to him understanding the car, and discovering the best braking times.
As quoted by Motorsport-Total, Surer said, “I feel like he found the way. He’s the late brake in person.
“There is no other driver who can actually slow someone two car lengths away. He has shown us that over and over again. But the McLaren obviously couldn’t take it. I think he studied all of this during the summer break and understood how to brake in order to get the maximum out of the car. I think it clicked now.”
Welcome change
Ricciardo’s struggles were noted by McLaren, and they backed him when he needed it. Now they have reaped the rewards in the form of a win. If Ricciardo maintains the form, more benefits will follow. Team Principal Andreas Seidl is also happy with the proceedings.
“It’s just good to have a break, get some distance as well after a very intense period for him where he was putting in a lot of energy and the results didn’t come,” Seidl said.
“Maybe he exactly needed that break to step away, think, reflect, and then come back and apply everything we’d worked through in the first half of the season. So, very happy with him, with this step now, that he’s pulled off this great win.”
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