Daniel Ricciardo hides a streak of raw determination behind his sunny smile and he is looking for ‘payback’ in Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix after missing out on a merited win in 2016.
After demonstrating his and Red Bull’s superiority in Thursday’s practice sessions, he believes he has the car to deliver pole in Saturday’s qualifying showdown. And from that, a chance to win.
Two years ago, in a dramatic finale, the big-smiling Australian’s Red Bull team bungled a late pit-stop which handed victory to Briton Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes — an experience that still irks and motivates Ricciardo.
“I haven’t forgotten it for sure and it is still there to motivate me,” he said. “It’s the one that got away and I am still looking for some payback on that.”
Clear goals
After dominating opening practice on Thursday ahead of his Red Bull teammate Dutchman Max Verstappen, Ricciardo was keen to ensure his team remained clear and realistic about their goals.
“I definitely expect all three big teams to be below 1min 12sec (in official qualifying) on Saturday — we set a benchmark and we have stated our intentions. We are here to try and win this race and to be the dominant team,” he said.
Ricciardo’s lap in 1:11.841 set a new outright lap record for the Monte Carlo circuit, which appears to suit perfectly Red Bull’s chassis and the pink-walled new 'hyper-soft' tyres.
That car advantage, he believes, could be enough to give them an advantage over both Ferrari and Mercedes when they turn up their engine modes to ‘qualifying’ levels on Saturday.
“Our gap from practice to qualifying isn’t normally as big as Ferrari and Mercedes. They will close that gap, definitely.
“But I feel that if we can put together a really good lap again, we have a chance for pole. And that’s my job for Saturday.”
Thirty years on from the weekend of Ayrton Senna’s celebrated 1988 pole lap for McLaren and 10 years on from Hamilton’s first victory in the Mediterranean principality, Red Bull appeared to be in the mood to smash records as the teams and drivers relaxed on Monaco’s traditional F1 ‘rest’ day on Friday.
Verstappen will be bidding to out-pace his team-mate and the rest to become the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history, a record currently held by four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, who was third for Ferrari on Thursday.
Vettel claimed his pole for Toro Rosso in Italy in 2008 at 21 years and 73 days.
Verstappen will not be 21 until September 30 and has a perfect opportunity.
“To make a difference here compared to other drivers, they all think the same, so you have to risk a bit more between the walls,” said the Dutchman.
