“Fortunately, it was just the seat. It wasn’t the actual kind of keel itself which is too narrow. So since then I have been able to get in a seat, and I do fit.”
However Ricciardo, who also revealed his new McLaren deal is for three years, believes his dimensions are maxing out the packaging solutions of modern F1 cars.
“I feel like I’m certainly the limit. You know, I think the way they design the cars and the chassis now, everything’s trying to be as tight and compact as possible. So really, my hips are sometimes the limiting factor.
“I said ‘Make sure I’m comfortable, and if you think that loses you a tenth, I’ll just drive faster!’”
“I just tell them: ‘Make sure I’m comfortable, and if you think that loses you a tenth of aerodynamics, then I’ll just drive faster on track!’”
Ricciardo moved from the literal to the lateral when describing how he was trying to find his place – metaphorically speaking – in the team.
“I think fitting in, in terms of feeling like you’re part of the team,” he replied when asked what was most difficult to adapt to in McLaren.
“Being integrated, not only into the driving side, but into the engineering side and the strategy.
