With the F1 grid lowered in Melbourne this weekend for the Australian Grand Prix, it’s a chance for favorite son Daniel Ricciardo to score a strong result in front of his home crowd.
Depending on who you listen to, Ricciardo may need such a result.
Ricciardo heads to Melbourne with the rest of the grid aiming to score his first points of the season. Despite a strong first practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix, Ricciardo failed to advance to Q3 and finished outside the points in the first race of the season. Then, in Saudi Arabia, Ricciardo once again failed to advance to Q3, finishing outside the points once again.
The driver may be considering a return to Red Bull after his stint with the Visa Cash App RB F1 team (a story he himself described as a “fairy tale” that ended last year), but he has not been able to get results on the track. There is pressure to do so. The ever-present pressure to perform in F1 has increased even further in recent days. We would like to thank Dr. Helmut Marko, Senior Advisor at Red Bull. Marko didn’t hold back after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: “…Ricardo has to show something quickly. There is work to be done.”
in FIA holds press conference on Thursday ahead of Australian Grand PrixRicciardo was asked about the late start and Marco’s comments.
“Let me tell you, I don’t buy into any of the stories. Of course I know my position within the team. I know, for example, that there are some potential things that could happen if I do really well. But it’s all like…you know, no matter what team you’re on, if you have a really good season, maybe something different will happen. I think we know that the position we’re in could go up or down. I think it’s always our aim to do the best we can,” Ricciardo said in response to a question from David Croft. Sky Sports F1. “And I think whatever happens is going to happen, or could happen. But for us, my goal is to drive this car as well as I can. Now, going back to the car, I think it’s never going to happen. I don’t think I’m looking too far ahead.”
Ricardo then took a diplomatic approach and detailed the story of his “fairy tale” ending.
“So am I thinking of the Red Bull seat you’re talking about? No, I know it could potentially show up if we did a really good result. It’s not something I’m thinking about, because, as you said, 12 months ago, I wasn’t in this position. I didn’t know if I’d be back in this position,” Ricciardo added. “So I guess I take it in every weekend. Yeah, no matter what’s going on around, there’s always going to be some stuff. But I’m just trying to figure out what to do with my job and what I have to do.” I know what to do.”
The driver said afterwards that he was focused on the weekend and a good performance rather than anything else.
“But the more I get into it, the more it takes my focus away from work and driving as fast as I can. I know I have a lot of other things going on during race week, but That’s why we’re finally here, pushing the car to its limits and trying to make it as good as possible,” Ricciardo said. “So I’m obviously looking forward to racing at home this weekend, but certainly, like you said, it wasn’t amazing after the first two races. But that’s not a concern. Of the 24 races. I think it’s our second race and we have a lot of new people on the team. It’s very early, but we definitely want to have a strong weekend and hope to do well.”
Photo provided by: Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images
Born in Diehl van Coldenhoven viaplay I then asked Ricciardo directly about Marco’s comments and whether the driver found them “annoying”.
Not at all. In fact, Ricardo pointed out that such stories and comments are part of the job. If he’s just one of 20 people in the world in your role, there’s going to be pressure and criticism.
“No, it’s not a nuisance. I think there’s always going to be an important part of our job…the most important part is driving, but a big part of that is talking to you guys and obviously when things go well. It’s about listening and listening when obviously everyone is talking positively and when they’re not, they don’t talk very positively. That’s part of it too,” Ricciardo added. “Also, the more passionate I get about this sport, the more I realize that I came back here because I believed I could do it. I believe I belong here, and I really do.” When people say, do you have something to prove, or do you need to keep people happy, do you need to please someone, I think for myself. I’m here because, honestly, I know I can still do it.”
Ricciardo concluded by acknowledging that he needs to do better, but that ultimately he is responsible.
“I want the people who support me to feel proud. If someone says something, I already know it, because I told myself that. Or I know what’s expected of me. That’s it. Of course we’re aiming to get to Q3. We want to get the result that we believe we can do. But it’s tight. We’re in a very tight race. We’re in the middle. And we knew we needed to put our laps together, just like in Bahrain in qualifying,” said Ricciardo. “And I raised my hand for that. That’s the difference. That’s probably the difference from 14th to Q3. I think it was less than a tenth from 9th at the end of Q1 in Saudi to 16th. So I can immediately see if I look like a hero or not. And that’s where every tenth is important. And that’s obviously where I look first at myself.”
Ricciardo will have his first two practice sessions in Melbourne later today and is expected to get his first crack at better results.
