Daniel Ricciardo: “I feel happier than at the start of the season. “
The drivers' press conference prior to the Belgian Grand Prix took place on Thursday. Daniel Ricciardo took the opportunity to review his performance. The Australian believes he's feeling better and better in the car, and is satisfied with his recent results.
Will Daniel Ricciardo’s latest results allow him to stay in Formula 1 and even maybe become Max Verstappen’s teammate? This is one of the questions raised during the drivers’ press conference held this Thursday, a meeting during which the potential transfers at Red Bull were discussed. A subject quickly dismissed by the Australian, preferring to focus on his own performances on the track and not on what happens off it.
« As always, I focus on myself and what I can do. With each race or every few races, the discourse changes and that’s the sport we’re in. Things move fast and you just have to try, I think, in these situations, to focus on yourself and make the most of it, and then see where the wind takes us. »
The driver with 8 victories in Formula 1 knows perfectly well that his results on the track will dictate his future. He also believes to have a much better feeling in the single-seater lately. Better sensations that seem to materialize on the track, the Australian having beaten his Japanese teammate 3 times in the last 5 races, scoring 3 more points than Tsunoda in the process. Results that give him a lot of optimism for the rest of his season and his career.
« I am definitely happier where I am now than during the first races of this season. I felt good throughout the season, but it didn’t quite click, lacking a better word, in the first races, and I think afterwards I was able to get more out of myself, certainly during the last races, and I think the trend is in the right direction, and I think that is obviously important. »
« We all try to pull that out of ourselves every weekend, and some weekends, it comes more easily than others. But I think that, yes, I am definitely sitting here now, much happier than probably, I don’t know, two or three months ago. »
The former Red Bull driver is therefore approaching a crucial weekend with confidence, according to Helmut Marko, who had mentioned potential changes at Red Bull after the summer break, a way to put even more pressure on Sergio Perez, the Mexican driver who is making mistakes and facing difficult weekends. A situation that seems ideal for Ricciardo, who confirmed speaking a lot with Christian and Helmut.
« It feels good to see them after a good result,” he added. « Helmut will still let you know when the result is not good. But I really feel happy to be back in it and under this kind of microscope, if you will, and in this environment with a bit of this pressure. It’s fun, but it’s probably the best way I can respond. » A return to Red Bull seems more and more conceivable and is considered by the Austrian team and its director Christian Horner who still holds Ricciardo in high esteem even if the former HRT driver still needs to confirm his good form in the upcoming races.
« I do everything I can. It’s a bit my goal. I would love to come back to Red Bull, but you know, there are also discussions about whether I will still be there. I made it a point of honor to prepare for each race. And of course, you do what you can. But for the two races to come, I told myself that I had to give it my all. And that’s it. So, yes. We’ll see. » Now we just have to keep an eye on what Red Bull will decide. The Formula 1 summer break is likely to be very lively.
