‘Having Some Success In 2014, I’m Not Going To Settle For Anything Else Right Now’ Says Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo goes into his second season with Red Bull. Ricciardo, who is a top contender to score some big wins after a successful run in 2014, has said that he is aiming for a championship fight this season.
Ricciardo had a remarkable maiden season with Red Bull and tried his best to have the best possible result in all the Grand Prix events in 2014. He took home victories in Hungary, Belgium and Canada. Ricciardo is the only driver aside from Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to win a race. He also had five podium finishes in Spain, Monaco, Great Britain, Singapore and U.S. and other top-five runs in Bahrain, China, Italy, Japan and Abu Dhabi.
As Red Bull’s team leader, Ricciardo rises to the challenge of surpassing his 2014 performance. According to the 25-year-old Perth native, he is eyeing for a championship title this year.
“Having some success (in 2014), I’m not going to settle for anything else now,” Ricciardo said via Red Bull official website. “I hope we can fight for the title, that’s where my sights are set.”
Ricciardo added that he has high belief that Red Bull has got what it takes to prevail in 2015. Last season, Red Bull ranked second in the Constructors’ Championships while Ricciardo ranked third behind Mercedes’ teammates Hamilton and Rosberg in the Driver’s Championships.
The Formula One, or F1 season kicks off in a week’s time in Melbourne on March 12. Ricciardo has already said that he is ready for the challenge in the season-opening race. However, former F1 star David Coulthard is wary about Ricciardo’s new role as Red Bull’s outright team leader with Russian Daniil Kvyat by his side. Coulthard is anxious if Ricciardo can thrive with Kvyat in 2015.
“He (Ricciardo) would be expected to beat Daniil Kvyat, but if he gets beaten, how is he going to handle that,” Coulthard told Australian news agency AAP. “Over a full grand prix season, he will get beaten by his teammate at some point.”
However, Coulthard said that Ricciardo already knows what it feels like to be the leader, after being the top driver for the team and did better than four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. Coulthard added that regardless if Ricciardo wins a title in 2015 or now, he will always be one of F1’s brightest stars.
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