‘I was convinced I’ll become world champion’: Daniel Ricciardo admits to living in a delusional world after his first-ever win in Montreal

‘I was convinced I’ll become world champion’: Daniel Ricciardo admits to living in a delusional world after his first-ever win in Montreal

Daniel Ricciardo has fond memories of Montreal.

Daniel Ricciardo, a present McLaren driver, goes back to the days when he won his first race in 2014, the Canadian GP, with Red Bull Racing. He talks about the pride he had standing on the top of the podium made him feel like a future world champion, and he believed so considering his car might get better next season.

2014 saw an engine regulation change and F1 started using V6 twin-turbo hybrid engines, and it was the Mercedes that completely took over this era of the sport, and now has won 8 titles in a row dominating the new era of Formula 1. Daniel Ricciardo merely won 8 races in between with the latest one coming in the 2021 Monza GP. Daniel has won no championship and will bearly will win any with the current form he is in. 

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But the Australian got himself that title standing on the top P1 stage at Montreal, “I’d kind of convinced myself ‘oh I’ll be World Champion next year, we’ll have a better car, I thought, ‘if I can win this race, I’ll win so many more.’ My thoughts got ahead of me,” he said.

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Daniel Ricciardo explained the feeling of winning a race

Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel joined F1 in 2011 but got his victory after three years, and he was at the top of the world winning his first GP, so much so that he imagined himself as a world champion next year. But Daniel never lost control over his character and always stayed intact being humble in nature. 

“But I think my actions were ok: it’s not like I did stupid stuff and bought myself a yacht [or] started becoming arrogant. But in my mind I probably got too excited for what’s to come,” said Ricciardo. 

“Your first win, you kind of feel like you’re invincible. My expectation for what was going to happen next was probably too high in terms of thinking I’d win a lot more than I have,”  Daniel added to his feelings about being a Grand Prix winner.

Daniel is P13 in the championship area with no world titles and is on the way outside the sport after his contract ends at the end of the 2023 season. 

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