Daniel Ricciardo’s home race was far from ideal ten days ago when he suffered one problem after another with his Red Bull Racing contender, starting with the third qualifying session on the Saturday afternoon and culminating in a DNF in Sunday’s race.
However, with the Australian race now a distant memory, he is now looking ahead to round two at the Shanghai International Circuit in China where he is planning a stronger outcome.
Where the Albert Park venue race has always held a sort of jinx on Australian drivers, Daniel has usually had good results in China and he is hoping to build on that again this coming weekend….
You've scored points in all but one of your five races in China, plus you were made it to the edge of the podium in two of your last three outings. You clearly like it there?
Yeah, Shanghai is a track that has definitely grown on me over time. When I first went there it wasn't one of my favourites and I wasn't normally that competitive but since I've been with Red Bull Racing the circuit has been a real strength of mine and I've had some good results. Now I really enjoy the circuit and going back there. The city is quite far from the track but I try to take time to visit, as it's a pretty cool place. It's a very international city with a good nightlife and some great restaurants; you really can find anything and everything there.
It's a similar story in Bahrain. Two fourth places in the last three seasons and never out of the points there with Red Bull Racing.
It's like Shanghai, in that it was never my favourite circuit, but I seem to have good results there and both races have become ones that I really enjoy. Since Bahrain became a night race I think the event has really come to life.
Max is a fan of the beachside vibe team hotel; we imagine that sun and sand suits you as well?
The hotel is really nice and it's close to the beach and the ocean. It's kind of got a resort atmosphere and a lot of the time I can relax and walk around the hotel in my swim shorts, so yeah, definitely a good one.
