Norris and Ricciardo hoping to have last laugh on rivals

THEY are the team-mates putting the fun into Formula One.

Brit Lando Norris and Aussie Daniel Ricciardo are changing the image of Mclaren and want to change the team’s fortunes too.

The days of Ron Dennis and his vice-like control over every aspect of the team have gone.

Under American team principal Zak Brown the team is finally emerging from the doldrums and the drivers are finding their voices.

In Norris and Ricciardo the Woking-based team have the right men for the job and both have a lively presence on social media as well as being jokers in the paddock.

Laughing as he sits down ahead of speaking about this season’s prospects, Ricciardo already looked comfortable alongside his new 21-year-old team-mate.

But he warned the jovial exterior should not be confused for a soft centre. The

Aussie, 31, ended a two-year stint with Renault at the end of last season to form the ultra-talented driver line-up with Norris.

And as he prepares for the first race of the year in Bahrain tomorrow, he said: “I’m excited, I’m definitely excited.

“Confidence, I’ve probably never been too shy of, but of course you can talk about it until the nonsense stops. There’s normally another word for that, but the nonsense stops on track.

“For sure this weekend is the first sign to really see where I am, where the team is, and where everyone else is – and where we

stand. I feel preparation has been key. Obviously it’s a new team for me, a new environment but I feel comfortable and I feel like we got up to speed pretty well a couple of weeks ago.

“So yeah, ready to get down to it now.” Mclaren have switched engine suppliers from Renault to Mercedes and have high hopes they can compete at the front of the grid.

They have not had a world champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008 and it is 23 years since they won the constructors’ championship.

However, Norris agreed that pre-season testing alongside Ricciardo had been a positive experience for the team.

Last season Mclaren turned things around by finishing third in the constructors’ standings, their highest finish since 2012.

Norris, who already has 38 Grand Prix starts to his name, said: “We have different ways of saying things, and he has a lot of experience of working with different teams and working with Red Bull and Renault, so there’s a different perspective on things which is good.

“We’re in line with what we want from the car, where we want to improve the car, and the team and everything, which is crucial so that we can work in one direction.

“I think we’re working well together, we’re pushing each other which is good and I’m sure we will be able to do that over the race weekend.”