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The F1 racing statement that Ricciardo should make again

OPINION: Daniel Ricciardo is making his second new start in three seasons, as he joins McLaren. His star is on the up again after returning to the podium last year, but he may want to revisit a powerful approach he's previously used to beat Formula 1's best

Alex Kalinauckas Feb 16, 2021, 11:42 AM

The clothes and colours were different, the smile was the same.

Daniel Ricciardo made his first full public appearance for McLaren at the unveiling of the team's MCL35M challenger. The Formula 1 world is reading the opening sentences of the latest chapter in his story - the cuddly 'Honey Badger' on display again.

He's making his second new start in three calendar years, but this one will be a little different to the last, given the ongoing disruption of the pandemic. And Ricciardo's first challenge will be fitting in at his new squad - something he highlighted as particularly important. A good thing, then, he is who he is - with former squad Renault noting his ability to lift a room, such is his engaging character.

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Author Alex Kalinauckas

Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.

A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.