The Australian Grand Prix has historically presented challenges for home drivers, with podium finishes few and far between. Despite a lackluster start to the season, Daniel Ricciardo remains optimistic about his prospects and is confident he can rediscover his best form.
The last Australian to grace the podium at Albert Park was John Smith in 1983, with Alan Jones clinching the last homegrown victory in 1980, albeit in a non-championship race. Ricciardo himself stood on the podium in 2014, only to be disqualified post-race due to a regulatory breach by his team.
With finishes of 13th and 16th in the opening races of the new F1 season, Ricciardo acknowledges the slow start but remains undeterred. He emphasizes that turnaround can happen swiftly in Formula 1 and expresses confidence in his abilities to bounce back.
“It feels like it’s been a pretty slow start to the year, but it’s been two races,” Ricciardo said after the race. “I know how quickly this thing can turn around.
“There’s not too much head-scratching right now. It’s just a frustrating weekend, but it’s not that we don’t have answers. I think it’s quite clear.”
Reflecting on his resurgence midway through last year after returning to the grid, Ricciardo notes the lasting impact of rediscovering his passion for the sport. He prioritizes racing and training, leaving distractions behind and focusing on his performance on and off the track.
“It’s had a long-lasting impact. I got my energy and my excitement back by pushing a few things to the side, cutting out a lot of clutter,” he told The Age.
“From that mid-point of 2022 when I basically didn’t have a job and was almost wishing the races away, wanting the season to be done with.
“I wanted to get that feeling back again, to bring out the old me. Racing and training are my priorities right now, and all of the other stuff is secondary.”
Despite the lack of desired results, Ricciardo recognizes his influence in shaping the team environment. He highlights the importance of fostering a positive atmosphere and acknowledges his role in lifting team morale.
“You realise with age that you have the power to change how a garage feels, how a team responds,” he said.
“We don’t just drive the car, we have the ability to alter the atmosphere in the room and that’s something I’m definitely more aware of.”
The atmosphere at Team RB has faced challenges, notably with teammate Yuki Tsunoda expressing frustration during the opening race. Despite tensions, Ricciardo emphasizes the need for unity within the team and aims to foster a collaborative environment for success.
“Where I’m at in my career and probably just my age… no one’s going to benefit from us having a rivalry or attention or anything like this from race one of a long season,” he said.
“Especially when the team has new personnel. Everyone’s trying to pick each other up and build themselves and the confidence, we need to help them do that as well.
“What happened at the end of the race wasn’t great, but two hours later we walked out of a meeting [and] actually put the team in a better place than it was.”
As Ricciardo navigates the ups and downs of the F1 season, he remains committed to his goals and focused on driving performance while contributing to a positive team dynamic.