‘It’s a bit of a surprise’ – Ex-McLaren drivers Ricciardo and Sainz reflect on team's progress

Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz have opened up on what it has been like to see their former team McLaren achieve success in recent times, with the Woking squad having continued to progress during the past two years in particular.

Ricciardo spent two seasons at McLaren in 2021 and 2022 but – despite claiming a victory at Monza during the first campaign – it proved to be a challenging time for the Australian, and it was mutually decided that his contract would be brought to an early end.

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Oscar Piastri was brought in to replace his countryman and the team enjoyed an impressive turnaround in 2023, going from a difficult start to the year to being one of Red Bull’s closest competitors by the close of the season.

Their ascent has continued in 2024, with both Piastri and Lando Norris claiming a race victory, while McLaren are hot on the tail of Red Bull in the constructors’ standings.

Asked during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend if he had been surprised by the team’s recent success – or if had witnessed signs of this building during his own stint with the squad – Ricciardo joked: “I mean, I won a race there, so I don't know what you're talking about! I had heaps of success there!”

Reflecting further on the topic, the 35-year-old said: “It's hard [to say]. 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. But I also don't look at that like, ‘Oh man, if only I could have had that.’

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“That's the sport, that's how it is... 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.”

Prior to Ricciardo joining McLaren, Sainz had been Norris’s team mate between 2019 and 2020. During his time with the team, the Spaniard achieved his first podium before going on to become a Ferrari driver in 2021.

While several years have passed since he worked with the papaya outfit, Sainz felt that the squad would eventually taste the levels of success that they had experienced in their illustrious past.

“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,” Sainz explained.

“So, when I left, I left with a feeling that it was more maybe a matter of time – it was going to take them two years, four years, six years to be McLaren again, which we all know how much success they've had in history.

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“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. As Daniel said, hats off to them.”