(Austin) Formula 1’s biggest smile is back on the grid, once again.
Daniel Ricciardo now wants to deliver results worthy of his return to AlphaTauri and the coveted banquet for the 2024 campaign. After earning a chance to save his career earlier this year, the Australian has missed the last five races with left-handedness fractured.
But the 34-year-old will make his return this week at the United States Grand Prix, where he always makes an impression with flattering depictions of the Texan lifestyle.
” Hi guys ! It’s been a long time,” Ricciardo told a group of drivers as he took the stage ahead of the traditional Thursday press conferences.
Ricciardo has often made the Circuit of the Americas – near Austin, the capital of Texas – his personal playground. He’s already entered the paddocks on a horse, imitated a Texas accent during interviews and worn the uniform of the University of Texas basketball team during the drivers’ parade.
Eventually, Ricciardo will have to focus seriously on racing, while his sport has not been kind to him in recent years. Some results have been painful, both emotionally and physically.
“I consider myself above all as a driver, not as an artist,” Ricciardo clarified. I want to race, make sure I’m seen as a hungry, determined driver who’s not just here to have a good time. »
Ricciardo’s best years were at Red Bull, where he scored seven of his eight career victories and finished on the podium twice at Austin, in 2014 and 2016. This was followed by two winless seasons with Renault, then a stint with McLaren.
Ricciardo secured McLaren’s first victory in 10 years. But apart from this highlight, he was disappointing, being regularly beaten by his teammate Lando Norris.
His smile gradually lost its shine, before disappearing when McLaren bought out the last year of his contract.
AlphaTauri released rookie Nyck de Vries after 10 races and handed the wheel to Ricciardo. He finished 13th in Hungary and 16th in Belgium, before going off the track which broke his hand in the Netherlands.
He once again had to watch the others take to the track, including New Zealander Liam Lawson who replaced him at AlphaTauri, while he was just a spectator. Lawson was also good enough to earn the reserve position at AlphaTauri next year.
“He’s young,” Ricciardo said of Lawson. It’s not like he’s at the end of his career. Keep going to the races, keep your head down. If he continues on this trajectory, his time will come. »
Ricciardo had to get behind the wheel of his car on Thursday, quickly revealing a big smile. He said he was in good shape and ready to take on the bumpy Austin track.
“It’s true that it shakes you,” he conceded. But I think I like it. »
The FIA, which governs the sporting aspect of F1, has increased the maximum amount of fines that stewards can impose on drivers from €250,000 to €1m.
Several surprised pilots wondered what kind of infractions could merit this kind of punishment.
“Maybe cross the track? » said three-time champion Max Verstappen. He was referring to Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, who was fined 50,000 euros (about C$73,000) for walking on the track after a collision with teammate George Russell at the Qatar GP.
The FIA announcement did not specify for which offenses this fine would apply. However, she explained that the maximum amount of 250,000 euros (approximately C$363,000) had not been revised for 12 years.
“A million is a huge amount. I don’t know what could possibly deserve this. Some drivers make less than that! » launched Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
“Charles could give away his watch,” laughed Kevin Magnussen, before Hamilton intervened more seriously.
“If they’re going to hand out 1m fines, let’s be sure that 100% of those amounts are going to go to legitimate causes. There is a lot of money in [motor racing and] so many causes in the world. This is the only way they will get this money from me. »