After two years at Renault F1 Team, Ricciardo joined McLaren for the 2021 Formula One World Championship as a replacement for Carlos Sainz Jr. who signed a multi-year deal with Ferrari. His team mate for 2021 is Lando Norris, who was retained by the team. Regarding his new contract, Ricciardo admitted that before signing for McLaren he had held talks with Ferrari about taking over Sebastian Vettel's seat but Ferrari had instead signed Sainz. He subsequently placed 7th in the 2021 season opener in Bahrain, having qualified 6th. At the following race, the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, he finished 6th, having once again qualified in the same position. At the third race of the season in Portugal, Ricciardo suffered a shock exit in qualifying, being knocked out of Q1 and starting the race from 16th. During the race he worked his way through the field and ended in a points-scoring position in ninth, helping McLaren maintain third place in the constructors' championship. At the Spanish Grand Prix, Ricciardo qualified seventh, but managed to climb to fifth on the opening lap. He defended fifth from Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez until lap 45, where Pérez was able to get past at turn 1. He finished sixth, marking the first time in the season he finished ahead of Norris.