Ricciardo optimistic after "promising" Thursday

Daniel Ricciardo believes that Red Bull are right in the mix at the front after Thursday practice in Monaco. Ricciardo ended the second practice session in second place, with a lap time of 1:13.207. 

The 27-year-old claimed pole position at the same event twelve months ago but painfully lost the race when his team didn't have his tyres ready when he came in to pit. The Australian will be hoping to bounce back from what has been a tough 2017 season so far, and his practice pace suggests he is on for a stronger weekend.

"For a Thursday here I'm pretty pleased," said Ricciardo. "Firstly, to drive this track, it's so much fun. I think regardless of how the car feels, it's fun. I feel like we got back in that groove around here.

"Tonight, we'll work on the car, as there are a few little things I want to work on. But generally we're there, we're in that window where we need to be. We're not a second off [the pace] or anything, so that's promising."

Ricciardo added that it would be safer to not change too much on the car, as it is better to drive a car that you know around Monaco. Little tweaks may be made, but he said he doesn't want anything major done.

"I think especially around a street circuit, you're better off driving a car that you know, as opposed to turning it upside down, which can take confidence away from you," he said. "I think we'll do some little tweaks to the car tonight to prepare for Saturday, but I don't think we need to do too much at the moment."

 

Fergal Walsh 

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  • Team Visa Cash App RB
  • Points 1,061
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  • Country AU
  • Date of b. Jul 1 1989 (36)
  • Place of b. Perth, AU
  • Weight 64 kg
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