Daniel Ricciardo conceded that his speed was lacking during the Imola weekend, explaining that he is still figuring out how to get the most out of the McLaren. This was evident at the Emilia-Romagna GP, where Ricciardo finished sixth while Lando Norris secured a third-place podium finish.
Speaking after the race, Ricciardo pointed out that Norris was clearly the faster driver. He felt that although sixth place is a respectable result on the surface, his actual performance wasn't where it needed to be, and he's determined to find the adjustments necessary to improve his grid position.
Ricciardo finds motivation in Norris's impressive pace, viewing it as proof that the car is capable of more. He is optimistic that he'll find his own balance in the coming races, particularly believing that the car's handling in the corners can be further optimized.
The race started in rainy conditions, leading both McLaren drivers to employ the same strategy: starting with intermediate tires and later swapping to softs. Towards the end, Norris admitted he struggled to keep his soft tires in good condition while defending against a charging Lewis Hamilton.
Ricciardo felt he started strong, managing his intermediates well enough to climb into fifth. However, as his tires began to degrade, his pace dropped. During this phase, the team requested that he let Norris through, a request he followed.
Following a similar choice to Sebastian Vettel, Ricciardo switched to soft tires before the final restart, a move he later came to regret.
He explained that the decision to use softs was based on the expectation of a standing start. Once it became clear it would be a rolling start, the Australian realized the mistake. He attempted to nurse the tires, but as the rest of the field pulled away, he was forced to push harder than he wanted to.