The return of the Dutch Grand Prix next year, which is expected to be confirmed on Tuesday, will see Formula 1 cars back at Zandvoort for the first time since 1985, but Renault's Daniel Ricciardo fears it won't be an exciting race.
The Australian described the circuit as "awesome" and requiring "big balls" to drive it at speed due to the tight and twisty nature of the layout, however he says that won't necessarily create an exciting race as overtaking will be difficult unless changes are made to widen the circuit.
"I raced there in F3 and I remember it keeps your eyes open. The track to drive on is pretty awesome. It is high-speed, it is old school, [you need] big balls," he said when asked about his feelings of racing at Zandvoort next year.
"From a driving point of view it is fun. But how fast it is, and how narrow some places are, I don't think it would be that exciting for overtaking. Just my initial feeling, I think with the speeds we go now, following another car would be very difficult. So that is my reservation with it, I think it could be a very processional race.
"Otherwise the track is cool, but we will see. I'm a bit torn because to drive on it would be fun but to race on it would be…with the width of the cars now, it is probably like a street circuit through some of the places, and then all high-speed through the middle…we will see but I think it would be tricky to make an exciting race."
Ricciardo also share his opinion on the news that Sao Paulo could lose its race to a new circuit in Rio de Janeiro after president Jair Bolsonaro declared the move would happen in 2020.
"I've never been [to Rio]," he added. "But that would be nice. Sao Paulo, the track, I've never been that excited by it. I don't know the plans in Rio. I've never been to the city so I'd just be for it because is sounds fun. Maybe the circuit could be a bit more exciting than Interlagos. For now with my limited knowledge I am for it."
