Lando Norris was full of praise for former team-mate Daniel Ricciardo ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, with the Aussie being in the paddock for just the third time this season.
Following his switch from McLaren to Red Bull to become their development driver, Ricciardo hasn’t been seen very often this year, with him only attending a select number of races this season.
The 33-year-old has so far only attended the races in Australia and in Miami; however, he is at the Circuit de Monaco this weekend, a venue he famously claimed victory at in 2018.
Ahead of the weekend, Norris explained how Ricciardo helped him “become a better person” during their two-year spell together as team-mates, with the pair having remained friends ever since.
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“I think his experience and mentality, to me, was always crucial in helping me become a better person, a better driver.” Norris said to the media ahead of this weekend.
With the exception of his victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, Ricciardo’s time at McLaren was highly disappointing, with the 33-year-old having been consistently beaten by Norris.
Ricciardo was contracted to race for the Woking-based team this season, only for his deal to be terminated mutually.
McLaren opted to terminate the fan favourite’s contract due to having signed fellow Australian Oscar Piastri, who is already pushing Norris despite being just five races into his rookie campaign.
Ricciardo has certainly endured some incredibly challenging moments during his career; however, he’s often been able to hide his feelings through his infectious smile, with Norris admitting that he admires how the experienced driver has dealt with the “tough times” in his career.
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“Daniel [Ricciardo] has always done a good job at hiding or just dealing with tough times.” Norris said.
“That’s something I really admired with what he’s done. I probably wouldn’t be able to look back and really be as happy as what he’s been in the past if I was in a similar position.
“So that’s something I really do admire and try to be more like when I go through tough times.”