McLaren are sitting third in the Formula 1 constructors' championship after the first two races of the season, and bagged a podium last time out in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with Lando Norris finishing in third. New signing Daniel Ricciardo, who joined from Renault at the end of last season, has struggled to keep pace with his younger teammate, finishing sixth at Imola after the team ordered him to let the faster Norris pass him during the rain-soaked race. Ricciardo has said while he is still getting to grips with some aspects of the car, Norris had shown the potential the team has to compete at the front of the grid this year, he said in a statement. "We’ve definitely started the season on the right foot by scoring good points for the Constructors’ Championship, so I can’t be too disappointed on that front," he said. "There are a few elements I’m still trying to get to grips with which is only going to get better with more time behind the wheel. Seeing Lando achieve a podium showed the potential of the car which is super motivating. We’re only three races in and there’s a lot more to come from me, so let’s keep it going.” The Australian added that he is keen to get back racing at Portimao for the Portuguese Grand Prix this weekend after the track proved popular with both drivers and fans on its return to the calendar for the first time since 1996 last year. “Up next is Portimão and I’m eager to get back in the car. Racing there is a lot of fun with the track having some unique elements that you don’t see at every race on the calendar," he said. "There’s a good mixture of high and low-speed corners with various changes in elevation that make it an exciting challenge. Coming out of some of the turns, you can really feel your stomach drop with the steep changes in gradient."
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