Ricciardo ready to take back in Monaco

Australian Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo says a bungle 12 months ago won't haunt him in this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull in Monaco

Australian F1 star Daniel Ricciardo still believes he's the man at "tight and intimidating" Monaco. (AAP)

It's a scene of pain and embarrassment, but Daniel Ricciardo still believes he's the man at "tight and intimidating" Monaco, his favourite Formula One circuit.

The Australian is keen to stamp his quality on this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix after least year's race when he built a comfortable lead before being undone by a team pit stop bungle.

He finished second to Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, prompting him to lash out at his Red Bull team who held him up for 10 seconds during a tyre change.

"Last year was disappointing for me as I felt we definitely had the win on the cards," Ricciardo said.

"I am old enough and mature enough now to put that behind me and be able to look forward to racing there and take back what I felt I lost last year."

Ricciardo sits fifth in championship standings after five races, with his best showing coming in this month's Spanish Grand Prix where he finished third behind Hamilton and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.

Despite his Renault engine being down on power, the 27-year-old is confident he can challenge title leaders Hamilton and Vettel, who each have two wins this season.

"Regardless of where the car is at come Monaco, I'm certainly confident going there," he said.

"I certainly feel like I run those streets. I already get excited thinking about Monaco, I love that place. It's cool.

"The memories of last year are still more sweet than bitter so I'm just excited to get another chance this year.

"Monaco is definitely my favourite track to drive. It is so tight and intimidating.

"From the outside some of the sequences look impossible to go through at the speeds we do. Once you are in the car it's an amazing feeling. If you kiss the wall it actually makes you want to do it again as opposed to scaring you."

Ricciardo is aiming for his third podium in Monaco after also finishing in the top-three in 2014.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world