Due to the COVID pandemic, Formula 1’s Australian Grand Prix had been dropped from the championship’s last two calendars, with a last-minute cancellation for the 2020 edition. But this weekend, the event is making a comeback, to the delight of Daniel Ricciardo. Since the retirement of Mark Webberat the end of the 2013 season he was the only Australian driver on the grid and therefore received some public attention during his visits to Melbourne.
On the sidelines of the race weekend, the driver McLaren has indicated : “I think you realize how much you miss it once it’s gone. And that’s really how I feel. Being so close [de rouler] two years ago, we were all ready. I had gone to bed ready to wake up the next morning to hit the track and it was in the middle of the night that I learned that the race was most likely going to be cancelled. It was pretty heartbreaking.”
“It’s obviously the selfish point of view of a driver but [c’était aussi déchirant] for all those present on the spot and who expected to see a race. Australia is quite isolated so it is not easy for Australians to travel to other countries around the world for shopping. It was tough for everyone so I’m really happy to be back.”
If the eyes will be on Ricciardo from Friday to Sunday, they will also be on the result of the work carried out on the Melbourne circuit. During the circuit’s prolonged absence from the calendar, several corners have been modified and their entrances widened in order to increase overtaking opportunities. And according to Ricciardo, this objective will be fulfilled.
“I think you are going to see a totally different Sunday”he launched, adding: “[Le circuit] looks really good. I was a bit involved in the circuit redesign discussions a few years ago, when [les organisateurs du GP d’Australie] started to think regarding what to do to try to improve the race. [Melbourne] has always been a fun circuit but on Sunday overtaking was a bit difficult due to the nature of the layout. So really, the idea was to try to make Sunday a bit more exciting, with a bit more overtaking.”
Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
Beyond overtaking, changes to the Melbourne circuit have made the track much faster, which might benefit McLaren. The British team had taken the hit in Bahrain, a circuit with several slow corners, before pick up colors on the long straights of Jeddah. Ricciardo hopes so open your counter this weekend, even if his fans dream of a better result.
“In Bahrain, for the first race of the year, we were clearly in trouble”he explained. “It was a technical circuit, quite winding, and then we went to Saudi Arabia, [sur un circuit] much smoother. I think the weekend in Melbourne will be very close [du week-end de Djeddah], and we were much more competitive. So hopefully that bodes well.”
“Quite simply, I don’t have any points yet. There have only been two races, so let’s say getting into the points is a start. It’s the bare minimum. The only thing that would make everyone happy would be a podium, so that’s what I would like. But honestly, we are still a bit far from that.”
Interview by Luke Smith
