‘Totally different’: Daniel Ricciardo promises big transformation

Daniel Ricciardo has inside information that he believes can turn the Australian Grand Prix on its head in Melbourne this weekend.

McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo prepares to race in Melbourne. Picture: David Caird.

Daniel Ricciardo has promised the 2022 Australian Grand Prix will be “totally different”.

The McLaren driver has been one of the brains and prominent voices in the major track renovations that have re-shaped the iconic Albert Park circuit in Melbourne.

Formula 1 is back and racing in Melbourne for the first time since 2020 as a result of the pandemic — and the 32-year-old says fans should expect to see a very different race.

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Ricciardo said last year he had been consulted on the track changes unveiled by the Australian Grand Prix Corporation last year. The track now features three major areas of construction designed to allow drivers to carry more speed exiting turns and more scope for completing passes at the end of a longer straight.

His inside info on the quirks of the track are a potential boost to his hopes of snapping McLarens run of poor form this year.

Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris inspect a full size McLaren F1 Lego car. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“Not taking credit, but I was a little bit involved in the talks about revamping the circuit a few years ago when they had the first idea of what to do to try to make the racing a bit better,” Ricciardo told reporters on Wednesday.

“It has always been a fun track but on Sundays it has been a little bit tricky for overtaking just through the layout and the nature of it.

“Really, the idea was to try and open it up and just to make Sunday a bit more exciting and try to have more overtakes.

“As a race now you’re going to see a totally different Sunday here in Melbourne.”

The Australian Grand Prix gets underway in Melbourne this Sunday, with lights out scheduled for 3pm AEST.

How the 2021 Aussie Grand Prix was supposed to look after the major upgrades. Photo: Formula 1.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his long-awaited homecoming, Ricciardo admitted the team would be happy with a points finish after such a rough start to 2022.

Both McLaren drivers missed out on Q3 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah.

Lando Norris went on to take McLaren’s first points of the season with a hard-fought seventh place.

It is why the bar is set so low for the team this weekend.

“Looking at Australia, it’s going to be flowing and quite fast again, especially the changes they made,” he said.

“So perhaps that comes to us again and maybe we could fight for points. I know that’s not aiming very high but that’s really all we can aim for, for now.

“Until we get some big updates, I think anything inside the top 10 we’ll take as a little victory for now.”

The event officially begins on Friday with the first practice session scheduled for 1pm (AEST).