VIDEO: Ricciardo aims to “hit the ground running” at McLaren in F1 2021

New signing Daniel Ricciardo says he is motivated to “hit the ground running” for McLaren during the 2021 F1 season.
VIDEO: Ricciardo aims to “hit the ground running” at McLaren in F1 2021

New signing Daniel Ricciardo says he is motivated to “hit the ground running” for McLaren during the 2021 Formula 1 season.

Ricciardo has left Renault to join McLaren on a three-year contract, who are switching from Renault to Mercedes engines for the upcoming campaign.

The British outfit became the first F1 team to launch its 2021 car - the MCL35M - and revised driver line-up at its Woking headquarters on Monday evening.

Speaking in one of his first interviews since arriving at Woking, Ricciardo believes that after spending two years at Renault, he is joining McLaren at the perfect time.

The 31-year-old Australian, who won seven grands prix during his time at Red Bull between 2014 and 2018, joins McLaren after it clinched third place in the constructors’ championship and claimed two podium finishes last year.

You can watch the full interview below, which also includes the thoughts of McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, team principal Andreas Seidl and Lando Norris's thoughts about Ricciardo’s arrival.

SEE ALSO: ‘Excited’ Ricciardo confident he can realise F1 ambition at McLaren

Ricciardo drove a McLaren F1 car for the first time on Tuesday afternoon as he shook down the MCL35M at a soggy Silverstone.

McLaren is expected to use up both of its allocated filming days this week to provide Ricciardo and Norris with some valuable track time ahead of the upcoming 2021 F1 season.

The shakedown not only provides Ricciardo with his first chance to get his first experience of driving a McLaren F1 car but also allows the team to get its first real-world look at evaluating the installation of its new Mercedes engine.

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