Daniel Ricciardo is preparing for his 10th Australian Grand Prix when he returns to Melbourne this weekend and has admitted that he’s treating it like it could be his last F1 race on home soil.
The veteran Formula One star is looking forward to racing at Albert Park after he was forced to watch last year’s race from the sidelines.
‘You can’t kind of look too far ahead and predict what is going to happen or what could happen,’ he told News Corp.
‘I’m obviously in different colours again but honestly really happy with where I’m at.
‘I think just the mindset now of going racing, making every weekend count and putting everything I can into it – hopefully the fans appreciate that.’
Daniel Ricciardo is returning to Melbourne Park on Sunday for his 10th Australian GP, desperate to improve on his shocking results from the first two races of the year
The Aussie F1 star (pictured with countryman Mark Webber at his first Australian F1 Grand Prix in 2012) wants to make his mark in his comeback race on home soil
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The Australian GP hasn’t been kind to local drivers, with podiums extremely rare – and when he finished second in 2014, he was disqualified for a rule breach.
Despite an underwhelming start to his F1 season, Ricciardo is confident he can make his mark.
‘I definitely thought about it in 2022 at that time when, let’s say McLaren cut short the contract and I was left wondering ‘is this next bunch of races going to me my last?’ he said.
‘At that time I was having a bad year competitively and I wasn’t really sure.
‘I thought “maybe I don’t love it as much as I used to. Maybe this is it”.
‘I definitely went through that but I think sitting here today I’m not of that mindset.
‘I definitely know that there may not be whatever many more years in it.
‘I do kind of treat it like it could be the last every year.’
Ricciardo has had a slow start to the 2024 season but is hoping for a top ten finish on Sunday
The event is sold out on both Saturday and Sunday, and Ricciardo is shocked about how popular the sport has become.
He finished in the points on debut in 2012, and says achieving a similar feat this year will be his goal this weekend.
‘I feel like this is a weekend where hopefully everything runs smooth and with that I do believe I can be in the top 10,’ he said.
‘Try and get the team some first points of the year and just get it rolling.
‘Obviously the top 10 doesn’t sound like it’s aiming very high but it’s so competitive where we are at the moment in that midfield battle that if I could leave Sunday with some points, I would be happy.’
