Aussie star Daniel Ricciardo reacts to the postponement of this year’s Australian Formula One Grand Prix

Daniel Ricciardo will have to wait an extra eight months to race at his home Grand Prix for new team McLaren. Here’s why he think it could be a good thing for him on track.

Daniel Ricciardo has described the postponement of the season-opening Australian F1 Grand Prix as a “shame”, but hopes the race’s rescheduled position later in the season will allow him to hit the Albert Park track with momentum for new team McLaren.

After the cancellation of last year’s event at Albert Park, Ricciardo will have to wait an extra eight months to race at his home Grand Prix in his first season with McLaren after F1 officials confirmed earlier this week the event would be shifted from March to November.

Moving from its coveted position as the F1 season-opener, the Australian Grand Prix, which was scheduled to be held on March 18-21, will now be held from November 18-21 due to

“continuing international travel disruptions and other matters related to coronavirus”.

The Melbourne race will now be the third-last event on the 2021 F1 calendar before the final two races in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.

Daniel Ricciardo ahead of last season’s Aus GP - which was cancelled

Bahrain will now host the opening race of the F1 season on March 28.

Ricciardo, who is spending his off-season in California, said he supported the decision to postpone the race but said a new later date could help boost his performance on the track.

“It’s a real shame that the Australian Grand Prix has been disrupted again, but at least we’ve got another date this year, and of course I totally understand and agree with the reasons behind it being postponed,” Ricciardo said.

“The safety of the fans, and everyone involved with the sport is the most important thing.

“But I am glad we’ve got another date later in the year and I think that’s cool.

“It’ll be approaching the Australian summer and I’ll have nearly a whole season under my belt with McLaren, so I think we’ll go there with some pretty good momentum and perhaps a bit more experience with the team.

“To be honest, I’m just excited about racing on home soil again.”

Ricciardo makes the move to McLaren in 2021 after two seasons with Renault, claiming two podium finishes last year in a shortened 17-race season.

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The 31-year-old’s best result to date at his home race is a pair of fourth-placed finishes in 2016 and 2018 (when he was with Red Bull Racing). He finished second in 2014, but was later disqualified for a fuel flow breach.

He didn’t even make it to the starting grid last year after the race was called off before an F1 car took to the track with the event called off due to coronavirus concerns on the Friday of the event.

The cancellation came after a McLaren team member had tested positive for the virus.

Originally published as Aussie star Daniel Ricciardo reacts to the postponement of this year’s Australian Formula One Grand Prix