Always suffused with conjecture and supposition, Formula One’s phoney war will end with the firing of engines in earnest at the Australian Grand Prix next Sunday. Expectations are it will herald another battle between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel. Daniel Ricciardo, however, has other ideas – this is a fight the local boy desperately wants to join. The Australian has a point to prove and a combative hunger coupled with confidence he is reaching his peak. If Red Bull can give him the competitive car he desires, Ricciardo will be gunning for both world champions. Hamilton and Vettel are the headline acts after their close scrap last season and both look to be in shape to repeat the struggle. Mercedes are ominously strong and Ferrari have carried their well-balanced car into 2018. But Red Bull, out of contention last season, have taken a major step. Testing suggested they may even have the edge on the Scuderia and Ricciardo is looking to enter a title contest for the first time.
Given the chance to do so, the decisive and sometimes breathtaking over taker is unequivocal his approach on track will stand him in good stead. “In the end you have to just pull the trigger,” he says. “Trust the car, trust the brakes, just go. It is a calculated but fearless approach – I am going to try and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. I will be happier if I crash by trying than not trying and running around behind the same guy for 70 laps.” It is an attitude Ricciardo has displayed before, proving he has no fear of Hamilton or Vettel. His attempted pass on the German at Mexico in 2016 was extraordinary and he was relentless in not giving up when the two fought at China last year. He was ruthless passing Hamilton at Hungary in 2014. Another world champion, Fernando Alonso, fell to his decisive style in the same race.
Last season at Baku, a gutsy and audacious late-braking manoeuvre on the Williams of Lance Stroll and Felipe Massa and the Renault of Nico Hülkenberg saw him move up three places and was named overtake of the year. It was matched, however, by a similar lunge on the anchors from eight-tenths back at Monza to claim Kimi Räikkönen’s scalp at turn one.That he has the chops is not in doubt and he has consequently proved to be one of the most entertaining drivers. Yet Ricciardo has yet to enjoy a shot at the title. Now 28, he joined Red Bull in 2014, the start of the turbo-hybrid era and Mercedes dominance. With their Renault engine lacking the power of the Mercedes, Red Bull have been unable to put themselves in contention.
