Ricciardo admits one-lap pace needs improving

  • Published on 10 Dec 2017 10:23
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Daniel Ricciardo has outlined that his one-lap pace is an area he needs to improve on for the 2018 season. The Australian was out-qualified 13-7 by teammate Max Verstappen in 2017.

It marked the first time in his F1 career that he was out-qualified over a full-season, having previously gotten the better of Jean-Eric Vergne, Sebastian Vettel, and indeed Verstappen in 2016. Ricciardo says that he will have to improve that area if he hopes to challenge for the world title next season.

"I can't deny that Max was better more times than not in qualifying this year – and qualifying has always been a strength of mine," he said. "So yeah, I've definitely got to lift my game in qualifying. The first part of that is to understand what I didn't execute as well this year as last.

"If it's half a tenth, it's half a tenth: it could decide pole; could decide a championship. We've got to fight for everything. And that's good. This year I think Max and I both feel that any mistake in qualifying means we're going to be second best.

"In the past, with some team-mates, you might perhaps get away with a little mistake here and there and still come out on top. Not anymore. We keep the pressure on each other."

Red Bull commenced the 2017 season behind Mercedes and Ferrari, despite the energy drink-backed squad expecting to be challenging at the front. Ricciardo took confidence from the team's development throughout the past year and doesn't see why they shouldn't be championship contenders from the get-go next March.

"I don't want to set the expectation bar too high – mostly because I hate that phrase – but yeah, the way we've progressed this year has been massive. We've developed more than anyone else. Because of that, it's hard to think we would not start next year on the right foot."

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • dr002

    Posts: 141

    He also needs to improve his race starts

    • + 0
    • Dec 10 2017 - 21:54
  • It would be fantastic if Red Bull builds a good car next year. Much more exciting than the one-horse Ferrari.

    • + 0
    • Dec 11 2017 - 19:08

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 19:28

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 19:28

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 3,060
  • Podiums 113
  • Grand Prix 211
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (27)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar