“It’s personal to me because I am Aussie and it’s a home one,” Daniel Ricciardo excited to return to Albert Park ahead of Australian GP 2022
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Daniel Ricciardo
The Australian GP 2022 has finally got the green signal this year, as we can finally get racing again at the Albert Park after three-long years. The Grand Prix in Melbourne was cancelled in 2020, after a few positive covid tests in the paddock. The race could not get a place on the calendar in 2021 as well, due to the restrictions imposed by the Australian government. But here we are finally, just a week away from the return of the Australian GP.
One driver for whom this race holds a special significance is none other than Australian driver, Daniel Ricciardo. The McLaren driver will be racing in front of his home fans once again, and he is thrilled as ever to get going. The ticket sales for the race have been clocking spectacular numbers, something which the experienced driver has touched upon.
“I’m excited to go home, definitely, it’s been a while. I’ve heard sales have been nuts and it’s going to be an awesome atmosphere so I cannot wait,” said Ricciardo.
Moreover, the McLaren driver believes that every driver on the grid is excited with the prospect of returning to Melbourne, with the energy and vibes it radiates. He cheekily mentioned Max Verstappen in the same conversation as well.
“Max [Verstappen] is cheering!. He’s excited to go as well. It’s personal to me because I am Aussie and it’s a home one and that’s a privilege, but every driver I speak to about Melbourne, they love it, they love it as an event. It’s exciting to go through the track changes as well this year, see what kind of racing that produces. So, just a big bundle of excitement,” he added.
It’s really focused on improving the racing: Daniel Ricciardo on track layout changes
There have been a host of changes made in terms of the track layout at the Albert Park. There will now be 4 DRS zones, and the number of corners have been brought down from 16 to 14. This will help in increasing the driver experience in Melbourne, allowing for more overtaking opportunities.
“I think with the new design at Albert Park, it’s really focused on improving the racing, the spectacle on Sunday, to create more opportunities for overtaking,” said Ricciardo.
“It’s a beautiful circuit but it’s always been quite narrow and tight, and therefore quite tricky to overtake on. So we’ve really tried to exploit some areas to allow more slipstreaming, to allow for more chances for overtaking under braking. So I think it’s going to be a different spectacle this time round,” he added.
Daniel Ricciardo also clarified that all drivers were consulted in respect to the changes in the track layout. Although, they might not all agree with the layout, yet they seemed to have reached a consensus. With new regulations in place, and with the improved driver experience in Melbourne, the Australian GP 2022 promises to be nothing short of a spectacle.
“Us drivers, a bunch of us were consulted on this. We were allowed to give our thoughts and input… We might not all be aligned but I think the purpose of this is to make the Sunday better. I had that in mind when I gave my input. If 2022 promises everything it does with being able to follow and the racing to be enhanced, then coming to a circuit like Albert Park with these changes should make a pretty amazing spectacle,” the Australian added.
Daniel Ricciardo will look to put behind a horrendous start to the season behind him this weekend. McLaren are one of the few teams who have taken a step back from the last season, as their 2022 challenger looks seriously underdeveloped as compared to their opponents.
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Nirmit Mehta
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