Daniel Ricciardo says he hopes to “get what we deserve” at his home event in Australia next weekend, off the back of a dismal display 12 months ago.
Ricciardo spun into the wall during qualifying at Albert Park last season and a subsequent gearbox penalty relegated him to a low-key 15th on the grid.
Ricciardo was subsequently unable to take up his place on the grid due to a gearbox sensor issue, which halted his car on the reconnaissance lap, and eventually joined the race two laps down.
A fuel issue before mid-distance brought a wretched weekend to a premature conclusion, and Ricciardo is hopeful of making up for last year’s wasted event this time around.
“Starting the F1 season in Australia means there is so much hype and so much build up,” he explained.
“With me being the only Australian on the grid there is extra attention, extra questioning and expectation.
“It’s a lot but it’s fun, it’s cool but it does mean I usually leave that weekend needing 48 hours of pure serenity and quietness!
“Melbourne in 2017 was a combination of my errors and some misfortune, I crashed in qualifying and then we had a technical issue for the race.
“We were all putting our hand up saying “my fault” last year so 2018 is definitely time to get what we deserve in Melbourne, or get what we came for, that sounds better.”
RICCIARDO AT THE AUSTRALIAN GP
2012 – A year on from his FP1 debut in Australia, Ricciardo delivered his maiden points on his first race outing for Toro Rosso, scoring ninth place amid a frantic dash to the line for the final top 10 positions.
2013 – Toro Rosso was a firm midfield contender but a so-so display in qualifying was followed by an exhaust failure in the race, ending his hopes of points.
2014 – Having replaced compatriot Mark Webber at Red Bull, Ricciardo starred and finished runner-up to Nico Rosberg, only to be disqualified hours later due to a fuel flow rate irregularity.
2015 – Red Bull’s early season woes were fully on show; Ricciardo qualified two seconds off the pace in seventh place, and raced to a lapped sixth, behind Sauber’s Felipe Nasr.
2016 – His best (legal) result to date. Starting from eighth on the grid, Ricciardo made gains to eventually classify in fourth place.
2017 – The disaster. A crash in Q3 was followed by a pre-race sensor failure, and he retired before mid-distance after re-joining two laps down in his wounded car.
