McLaren "put money where its mouth is" with Ricciardo
McLaren boss Zak Brown says he "put his money where his mouth is" to woo Daniel Ricciardo to the team for the 2021 Formula 1 season.
Ricciardo signed for McLaren back in May as part of the raft of driver movements sparked by news of Sebastian Vettel's impending Ferrari exit.
It was the second time McLaren tried to sign the Aussie, Brown making no secret that he approached Ricciardo to replace Fernando Alonso for the 2019 season.
Ricciardo decided against a McLaren move at the time, opting to sign a two-year deal with Renault, which had finished two positions higher in the 2018 constructors' standings, instead.
According to Brown it was no great surprise that Ricciardo went elsewhere at the time given the squad's lean run of results.
However he reckons it also helped him get second time lucky with a Ricciardo deal, McLaren's upswing in results proving to the driver that there was nothing hollow about the promises he made in 2018.
"A couple of years ago we were coming off a horrific season, one of our worst in McLaren history," Brown told the In the Fast Lane podcast.
"Really all I could do at that point was promise, or make claims, to Daniel on what my intentions were.
"But at that point it was just words – I'm going to get a great team principal, I'm going to get a great technical director, we're going to get the resources we need, we're going to invest in capex... it was a lot of promises.
"I think, understandingly, he went 'it all sounds good, but you are coming off one of one of the worst seasons in McLaren's history'. Ultimately it didn't get him over the line for those reasons.
"Now instead of saying 'I'm going to get a great team principal' I can say 'I got Andreas Seidl', who's making a huge difference in the team. 'I'm going to get a great technical director', I got one in James Key.
"I think a year on he was able to see I put my money where my mouth is, so to speak, and the results were coming."
While Ricciardo said back in June there was no "one deciding factor" to his decision to leave Renault for McLaren Brown isn't so sure. He feels that hiring ex-Porsche technical guru Seidl played a big part in getting Ricciardo to sign on the dotted line.
"He's a huge Andreas fan, I think that had a big part in his decision-making process," Brown said.
"He says 'Andreas is a monster'. And I think he means that in a good way. I think that's ultimately why he made the decision this time around."
Related video
F1 drivers would "love" return to Mugello in 2021
The other factor that helped make the Tuscan GP exciting
Why Mercedes' Spanish GP gains aren't as grand as they seemed
Mercedes' strong showing in last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix prompted team boss Toto Wolff to say it had halved its deficit to the leaders and its Formula 1 title chances were back on after a rocky start to the 2022 campaign. But a closer inspection of the team's performance suggests its gains aren't as grand as they first appeared
What's next for the Green Red Bull controversy?
From the 'pink Mercedes' to the 'Green Red Bull', the Silverstone-based team has received suspicious glares from up and down the Formula 1 paddock over its car design exploits. But after being cleared by the FIA over its Spanish Grand Prix updates amid a backdrop of cries of foul play, what's next in this saga?
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
In an unusually hectic Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc was denied a dominant performance by his Ferrari engine letting go which allowed Max Verstappen to pick up the pieces. But numerous flashpoints kept the race twisting and turning throughout, with one perfect score from an emerging contender
How Verstappen overcame his and Red Bull’s errors to win in Spain
Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari engine disaster offered an open goal for Max Verstappen and Red Bull to strike, but the reigning Formula 1 world champion still had to solve multiple errors and profit from a begrudged assist from team-mate Sergio Perez, which created an unexpectedly eventful Spanish Grand Prix
Why Red Bull can win a Spanish GP that looked perfect for Ferrari
Formula 1's return to Spain on Friday ended with Ferrari leading the way from Mercedes, while Red Bull could only manage third fastest overall courtesy of Max Verstappen. But its chances of victory are far from remote with a deeper dig into the times despite Ferrari's strong start...
The key aspects of Porsche and Audi's planned F1 entries
The VW Group’s German superpowers of sportscar racing have all but confirmed they are coming to F1 when the next set of engine rules come into force in 2026. Here's why both manufacturers are all set to take the plunge, and crucially how it might work
How Vegas went from byword for F1 indifference to grand Liberty coup
Holding a race in Las Vegas – party central, a city of dreams and decadence and, yes, more than a smattering of tackiness – has been on Liberty Media’s most-wanted list since it acquired Formula 1’s commercial rights. But, as LUKE SMITH explains, F1 has been here before and the relationship didn’t work out
Why de Vries' FP1 outing could add a new path to his current crossroads
A Formula 2 and Formula E champion, Nyck de Vries is currently considering where his future in motorsport lies. Continuing in WEC and Formula E is possible and he's also courted glances Stateside after impressing in an IndyCar test. But ahead of his Formula 1 FP1 debut with Williams, he could have another option if he impresses...