Ricciardo handed McLaren its first win since 2012 at Monza last Sunday, with Lando Norris’ second place ensuring the Woking team’s first 1-2 finish in 11 years.
His victory made Ricciardo the 20th different driver to win an F1 grand prix for McLaren, joining an illustrious list featuring the likes of Senna, Alain Prost, Mika Hakkinen and Lewis Hamilton.
The occasion was not lost on the Australian, who ended a personal win drought dating back to the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix – when he was a Red Bull driver – after a season where he had generally struggled to match Norris upon joining from Renault.
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Having called in the promise of McLaren boss Zak Brown to have a ride in an ex-Dale Earnhardt stock car upon achieving his first podium with the team, Ricciardo remarked after winning the race that it was “a little surreal” to think that his Monza silverware would join the many trophies Senna brought to the team in the MTC’s trophy cabinets.
“I’m sorry if I sound a bit self-absorbed now, but when I think of McLaren I think of Senna,” said Ricciardo.
“That’s the early memories and I’ve seen the trophies in the cabinet at the MTC and to have a winning trophy now with my name in pretty much the same cabinet is crazy.
“These are like two little things today that I certainly appreciate, and they are two little surreal moments that I guess have hit me.”
McLaren later released a video of Ricciardo placing his Monza trophy next to Senna’s winning 1993 Australian Grand Prix trophy.
Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren, 1st position, with his trophy
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
The race, Senna’s last with McLaren before his switch to Williams and also his last Grand Prix victory, has extra significance for Ricciardo, a spectator at the Adelaide street race.
He said he was “speechless” to be given a spot alongside the three-time champion.
“I mentioned that my trophy would be somewhere next to one of Senna’s and this is Senna’s from Adelaide ’93,” he pointed out.
“I was at the race. Pretty damn wild, so I’m nearly speechless.”
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