“You’re a legend” – Lando Norris bids goodbye to teammate Daniel Ricciardo in a heartfelt message as the Aussie leaves McLaren
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Lando Norris bid farewell to his teammate Daniel Ricciardo in an emotional message
Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo raced as teammates for McLaren for 2 seasons in Formula 1. In this period, the two built a heartwarming relationship and strived for the team’s success in the midfield. However, after Ricciardo’s failure to live up to the team’s expectations and match his British teammate, the Aussie agreed to leave the team at the end of 2022, a year earlier than the end of his contract. And now after the end of the season, Danny Ric is officially not part of the Woking-based team.
Lando took to social media, in order to bid farewell to his teammate, the Brit shared a few moments of the pair together at the team, and thanked the Aussie for his time as teammate in an emotional message. Lando tweeted, “Danny Ric, it’s been a pleasure my friend. Thanks for everything. Thanks for the good times. Thanks for the laughs. You’re a legend.” Thus as their paths diverge, the duo ended on a high note, having made countless memories with the British team despite the struggles during that time.
Norris had pushed the Aussie to his limits ever since the start of 2021, with the 23-year-old outracing his much more experienced teammate, shocking the whole paddock. However, it was Daniel who bagged McLaren’s first Grand Prix win since 2012 at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, with Lando coming home in second place. But 2022 saw a repeat of the Aussie’s troubles which forced him to play second fiddle as the team shifted its focus toward his younger teammate.
McLaren was forced to consider potential options and bought out Danny’s contract in order to get a more competitive driver to the team. Despite the Brit’s performances being a key reason for Ricciardo’s departure and a few ups and downs in their relationship, the pair ends their time on friendly terms. The pair also took part in several PR activities for their team, giving us some truly funny moments.
Lando Norris finishes as the best of the rest in the F1 standings
Lando Norris proved his talent this year, being the sole McLaren to score points consistently, with the 23-year-old scoring 122 points compared to his teammate’s 37. This puts the British seventh in the drivers’ standings, only behind the 3 top teams, essentially making Norris the “king of the midfield.” The McLaren driver was also the only driver outside the top 3 teams to achieve a podium finish this year at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The 23-year-old has impressed the critics with another outstanding season.
The Brit will be leading the Woking-based team as it heads to a new phase with the arrival of rookie Oscar Piastri for next season. The 23-year-old signed a big-bucks contract extension earlier this year, solidifying his place at McLaren till 2025. Norris has stated the team’s objective of fighting at the front in 2024 and hopes to help the team next year as they work towards achieving the same.
Norris had previously declined Red Bull’s offer for a race seat in the future and chosen to stay British team. We would be hoping to see more from Lando in 2023 as he has established himself as one of the most exciting drivers on the grid.
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