Ricciardo: McLaren struggles not always easy to take

The Australian was in the form of his life last year with Renault, but has struggled to adapt following an off-season move to McLaren.

Now 11 races into the season, Ricciardo sits ninth in the drivers' championship and 63 points behind teammate Lando Norris, who is third.

The 32-year-old is a seven-time race winner and his move to the Woking team attracted plenty of fanfare, but up until this point he has looked off the pace of the 21-year-old Norris.

Asked whether this season had been the toughest of his time in F1, Ricciardo told Australian outlet Speedcafe: “Definitely, definitely harder. I think it’s the first time I’ve consistently found it difficult.

“For sure over the years you have bad weekends, and even you might have two bad ones on a trot, but then you kind of get it right where I feel like it’s been definitely more bad, or more or less impressive than good.”

While Ricciardo has spent time in the midfield with Renault, he held the edge over teammates Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon, and he admitted that he needed to lift his game following the summer break.

“That’s obviously been not always easy to take, but it is what it is,” he added.

“I think sometimes as well, you’ve got to realise and remember that I’m in the elite level of the sport. It shouldn’t be easy.

“So yeah, I’m struggling more than I have before but it’s probably for a reason as well. I am against the best guys, so I’ve just got to lift my game and figure it out," Ricciardo concluded.