Australian Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo has revealed he is ready to take risks this weekend in a bid to get his season up and running after so far suffering two bitter body blows.
Ricciardo will have to wait until later this month to discover if his disqualification from second place in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix will be overturned on appeal.
On Sunday in Malaysia, a potential fourth race slipped through his fingers following a botched pit stop by his Red Bull mechanics.
That also resulted in an additional front-wing failure on the next lap, before ultimately retiring a few laps from home.
Under the regulations, Ricciardo was not only handed a 10-second stop-go penalty for the unsafe release, but will also serve a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s event in Bahrain.
It is not how the 24-year-old envisaged starting out on life with the reigning four-times Formula One champions.
“I’ve had some time to think about it all,” said Ricciardo.
“With regard to the penalty and the other incidents that happened, there wasn’t too much more to think about.
“The team have assured me they will do their best to address it and not let it happen again.
“But I have to admit, it is a pretty severe penalty – getting the 10-place for the following race.
“If it means they (the pit crew) taper off a little at the pit stops to be safe then the time loss is going to be much less.
“But at the end of the day they are also the quickest team at pit stops and you don’t want to take that away from them.
“Human error does happen, so that’s fine, and I’ve definitely moved on.”
At best, Ricciardo knows he will start from 11th on the grid, so appreciates he will have to race hard if he is to put some points on the board, regardless of what happens with the appeal.
“I’m definitely pleased to have back-to-back races,” added Ricciardo.
“I’m definitely motivated to get some points, and to only wait a week is nice. I’d have raced on Monday if I could.
“I’ll do what I can this weekend. I’m going to have to do a bit of overtaking if I want to move forward, and I’m definitely in the right frame of mind to charge hard.
“Hopefully we’ll give you an exciting race.”
