Ricciardo eyes car collection bet with McLaren boss as tattoo repeat unlikely
Daniel Ricciardo believes a repeat of his Renault tattoo bet will be off-limits at McLaren, but has set his sights on a wager surrounding Zak Brown's classic car collection
Seven-time grand prix winner Ricciardo has joined McLaren on a three-year contract ahead of the 2021 season following a two-year stint at Renault.
When Ricciardo signed for Renault, he agreed with team principal Cyril Abiteboul to get matching tattoos when he scored his first podium, which was achieved at last year's Eifel Grand Prix.
Ricciardo had hoped to meet up with Abiteboul before the end of last year to get the tattoos, but revealed on Monday that they are still yet to do so.
"You will definitely know when I get done with Cyril," Ricciardo said.
"Unfortunately, it hasn't happened yet. But it will, it will. And we certainly left on the terms that there was still some unfinished business, that business being the tattoo.
"I hope it does happen. Obviously sooner rather than later, but it definitely will."
When asked by Autosport if he would look to enter a similar wager with McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown, Ricciardo revealed that Brown had already suggested it was off-limits.
It has prompted Ricciardo to think of alternative options, making mention of Brown's extensive classic racing car collection that includes Mario Andretti's Lotus 79, Ayrton Senna's McLaren MP4/6 and Mika Hakkinen's MP4-16.
"We were just only a couple hours ago having some lunch with Zak and he mentioned something about him hating needles," Ricciardo said.
"So I can't see the tattoo thing happening with Zak. But we'll think of something else.
"I know he's got a pretty good car collection so maybe we could just bet for one of his cars or something!"
Ricciardo is set to complete his first outing in the newly-launched McLaren MCL35M car on Tuesday at Silverstone, having worked with the team in recent weeks at its Woking factory to get up to speed ahead of the new season.
Ricciardo felt that integrating with a new team was always the biggest challenge a driver faced when switching squads and learning to make a difference off-track as well as on it.
"[It's] fitting in, in terms of feeling like you're part of the team, so being integrated, not only into the driving side, but into all of it, into the engineering and into the strategy," Ricciardo said.
"I've already had so many meetings here at the MTC with not only my engineer, but really with the whole racing department.
"So it's kind of like feeling like you're sitting in the room with a voice, I guess, and with enough knowledge that what you say will be taken on board.
"That kind of integration into all areas of the race team, that's probably got a lot more power than just being the driver and only the driver.
"That feeling you can sit in every room and have a presence, that's probably most important, but it also kind of the most difficult thing to get going."
Video: Analysis of McLaren's 2021 F1 challenger, the MCL35M
Verstappen has performance clause in current Red Bull F1 contract
Why Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar can help its F1 team
On Tuesday, Red Bull laid out its plans to develop and build a new hypercar - the RB17 - penned by Adrian Newey. As the project itself sates Newey as a creative outlet, it also offers Red Bull's Formula 1 team a number of new and exciting avenues to pursue
What to expect from Mercedes as F1 returns to Silverstone
OPINION: The British Grand Prix is a home event for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, with their Mercedes team based just a few miles away too. But there’s another reason why the Silver Arrows squad is eager to arrive at Silverstone this weekend, which may help it fix its remaining problems with its 2022 Formula 1 challenger
The “solemn promise” that cost quiet hero Brooks an F1 title
After two terrifying crashes, one of the best British racers of the 1950s retired before his career peaked. But that’s why GP Racing’s MAURICE HAMILTON was able to speak to Tony Brooks in 2014. Like his friend Stirling Moss, Brooks was regarded as one of the best drivers never to have won the world championship. Here, as our tribute to Brooks who died last month, is that interview in full
Inside the Faenza facility where AlphaTauri’s F1 pragmatic vision is realised
AlphaTauri’s mission in F1 is to sell clothes and train young drivers rather than win the championship – but you still need a cutting-edge factory to do that. Team boss Franz Tost takes GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV on a guided tour of a facility that’s continuing to grow
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career
How a 30cm metal wire triggered open warfare in the F1 paddock
Porpoising has become the key talking point during the 2022 Formula 1 season, as teams battle to come to terms with it. An FIA technical directive ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix and a second stay appearing on the Mercedes cars only served to create a bigger debate and raise tensions further
Does Verstappen have any weaknesses left?
Having extended his Formula 1 points lead with victory in Canada, Max Verstappen has raised his game further following his 2021 title triumph. Even on the days where Red Bull appears to be second best to Ferrari, Verstappen is getting the most out of the car in each race. So, does he have any weaknesses that his title rivals can exploit?
How F1's future fuels can shape the automotive sector
In 2026, Formula 1 plans to make the switch to a fully sustainable fuel, as the greater automotive world considers its own alternative propulsion methods. Biogasoline and e-fuels both have merit as 'drop-in' fuels but, equally, both have their shortcomings...