Ricciardo: There's always going to be pressure in this sport

Ricciardo, an eight-time grand prix winner, endured a difficult season last year as he struggled to adapt to his new surroundings having moved from Renault to McLaren.

The Australian handed the former champions their first win since the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2012, leading teammate Lando Norris in a one-two in the 2021 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

But, he was otherwise regularly outperformed by the ten years younger Briton, who took four podiums and finished sixth in the overall standings. Ricciardo was eighth, with the Monza win his sole podium finish.

"There's always going to be pressure in this sport, whether it's from the team or even from the outside," explained Ricciardo from Woking during the launch of the 2022 McLaren MCL36. "But it'll always be me who puts it on myself."

The 2022 season will see F1 cars designed to radically new rules featuring revised aerodynamics and larger 18-inch wheels.

32-year-old Ricciardo, who finished third in the F1 drivers' standings for Red Bull behind only the dominant Mercedes pair in 2014 and 2016, was optimistic the reset would help him rediscover his groove.

"(I'm putting) a lot of emphasis on just getting up to speed with this car and proving that I still am one of the top guys on the grid and proving that Monza can happen again. To have a change now is sort of like new optimism, a new chance, so that's exciting."

Ricciardo also said McLaren's decision to secure 22-year-old Norris for the long term, announced earlier this week, with a contract keeping him at the team until the end of 2025 was a good move for both.

He added he was happy with his own deal, which ends in 2023 with options for future years, and not concerned that the team were building their future around his younger teammate.

"I guess I'm probably at that point now in my career where I'm not desperate to lock down a five-year contract or something.

"It's more just really assessing me probably first and foremost and where I kind of feel I'm sitting. Maybe it's something we'll look into maybe the second half of this year," added Ricciardo.