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RICCIARDO’S MONTREAL MOTIVATION

Daniel Ricciardo is motivated returning to the site of his first win - Photo: LAT

By Bruce Williams

Daniel Ricciardo is motivated returning to the site of his first win - Photo: LAT

Daniel Ricciardo is motivated returning to the site of his first win – Photo: LAT

Daniel Ricciardo earned his first ever Formula 1 victory in the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix while driving for Red Bull. The Aussie returns to Montreal in 2019 driving a Renault that is not capable of finishing in the top six on merit. Is he feeling frustration or motivation?

By DAN KNUTSON

“Motivation,” he said at during a press briefing in the Montreal paddock attended by Auto Action. “Especially coming back here as an example, the first place that gave me a win, that feeling of getting that back. This morning in the autograph session people were giving me photos of that win to sign, and I see the joy and strength in my face, and I want that back.

“It is motivation. The year has been going okay from my side and building with the engineers. Nico (Hulkenberg) came out strong at the start of the season and out qualified me in the first race. But since then I’ve been able to put it together. I am very, very motivated, and I want to get back on the podium. I know we are still not there, but if I keep this level of drive and hunger, then it is just going to come sooner rather than later.”

Ricciardo has now adapted his driving style to suit the Renault which differs from the Red Bull.

“I’m now comfortable and I am already starting to drive a little differently compared to what I was last year in some areas,” he said. “Even the way you brake into a corner or pick up the throttle, based on the characteristics I feel that I have already adopted new habits. Now it feels natural.

“In winter testing I thought I got up to speed well that that was that. But getting that last five percent, that was going to take time. I’d like to say I’m in that window where I wasn’t in the first few weekends.

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