Daniel Ricciardo Is Ready To Hustle In Hungary

Race Preview


Article heading image for Daniel Ricciardo Is Ready To Hustle In Hungary

This is it.

This is the last Formula 1 race before the cars are packed up, trucked home and the entire sport shuts down for a few weeks to enjoy the European summer.

And with just a point separating Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton in the drivers championship, there's a lot to drive for.

Ferrari started the season strongly but the Scuderia have lost their edge in the past couple of months.

Mercedes have won three of the past four Grand Prix and Lewis Hamilton says the teams are evenly matched on performance.

A cause of concern for Team Red will be the Ferrari's rough treatment of its tyres, which cruelled Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel's chances at Silverstone.

But a change of fortune could beckon.

Post

Hungary presents higher temperatures with a tight and twisty circuit more suiting of the Ferrari's set-up.

But it's exactly those sorts of conditions which could open the door for Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen and the Red Bulls to make a charge.

It's clear the Bulls have closed the gap to Ferrari and Mercedes in the development race in the last few rounds.

A further upgrade this weekend should bolster downforce at a circuit that's been known to reward the Red Bulls strengths in aerodynamics.

Daniel Ricciardo's had more success at the Hungaroring than at any track on the calendar since his first race for Red Bull in 2014 and even won the Grand Prix that year.

Since then he's finished third in 2015 and 2016.

A run of five straight podiums ended at the last race in Britain, but the 28 year old sits fourth in the drivers championship at the halfway mark of the season.

Earlier this week Daniel Ricciardo said he relished the chance to knuckled down come Sunday.

"We've got lots more grip this year so it'll be a bit more fun. The second sector is going to be amazing. That's one of my favourite sectors in F1."

Team-mate Max Verstappen also mentioned the "f" word.

"It's a great track, especially in an F1 car. It's actually quite narrow and with high speeds it's really fun to drive so I'm very much looking forward to it."

If it's as fun to watch as it is to drive, then we can't wait.

Bring on race day.

Post

 

Sean Maynard

10 December 2018

Article by:

Sean Maynard




Listen Live!
Up Next