Ricciardo: I expect to get into the right rhythm straight away

During yesterday’s presentation in Las Vegas, held by the team, whose new shortened name now resembles VCARB, Daniel Ricciardo naturally spoke about his expectations for the coming season, and we quoted his words.

But then the Australian driver made a reservation based on his rich experience, because he has been driving in Formula 1 since 2011 and life has taught him to be realistic.

“We have to set high goals for ourselves, but since I have been in this sport for a long time, it is better to remain realistic because I don’t want everything to end in disappointment,” Daniel explained his position in an interview. with the official website of the championship. “Of course we want to win, but you know… I think we already made progress last year, so now we have to take a few more steps. I like to think that we can claim a place in the top five already in the first half of the season.

I’m in a good mood. I needed less rest in the winter than everyone else, as my season was short last year. Still, it was great to be back home in Australia, but I wasn’t too relaxed. Now I’m ready for next season, but in fact it turns out that I already started preparing for it last year, so I already know our team well.

I will be in good shape for Bahrain. Of course I can’t predict where I’ll end up, but my preparation doesn’t raise any questions now. It doesn’t seem to me like I spent the offseason on the bench at all. I have maintained the right mental attitude so that when I get behind the wheel again, I don’t feel like I haven’t driven a race car in months. In general, I expect to get into the right rhythm straight away. And now, before the start of the season, I have many reasons for optimism.”

Ricciardo also commented on Lewis’s upcoming switch to Ferrari in 2025. According to him, he was not surprised by the seven-time world champion’s decision himself, but by the chosen moment for his announcement.

“I’m not surprised in the sense that I could imagine Lewis in a red uniform before,” the American publication quoted Racer Daniel as saying. “I could have foreseen this, remembering how his career developed, and of course also taking into account the legacy he would like to leave behind. Of course Ferrari is a good team and I have no doubt that it will have a chance to fight for victories.

But I think I was quite surprised by the timing. Of course, I don’t know the internal reasons and other factors that influenced this, although there were of course some reasons why his decision was announced so early. But this surprised me more than his upcoming move to Ferrari.

Mercedes now has a whole year to calculate further actions. I suppose in their situation there is no need to rush. They will review all possible candidates, as they always do. I think for a team like this there are advantages to a situation like this.”

As for his own prospects, Ricciardo made it clear that he is not trying to make plans for the future: “I’m definitely not looking that far ahead. At this stage in my career, it seems to me that if I try to plan something a year in advance, I’m simultaneously bringing it a year closer to its end. That’s why I prefer to live in the present and plan to move from race to race and prepare for each race individually.

In general, the transition season has already started, although it is still too early for that, and I am even glad that I am not yet participating in all this madness.”