Australian Daniel Ricciardo returns to the site of arguably his greatest triumph in Formula 1 as the McLaren driver attempts to end his year on a positive note.
Key points:
- Daniel Ricciardo sits 13th in the drivers’ championship, 63 points behind his teammate
- The Australian won the Italian Grand Prix with McLaren last season
- Ferrari celebrates 75 years as a car company with a special livery
Ricciardo enters this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix out of form and without a team next season.
He and McLaren will end their partnership at the end of the season, as Ricciardo makes way for fellow countryman Oscar Piastri.
It is a complete change of fortune to 12 months ago when Ricciardo was the toast of F1, winning the 2021 Italian Grand Prix ahead of teammate Lando Norris.
It was the eighth victory of his F1 career and the first time McLaren had won a race since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.
With just seven races left with McLaren, Ricciardo said he was hoping for a spark like he had around the famous circuit in Monza one year ago.
“Monza will always have a special place in my heart,” he said.
“Whilst another 1-2 isn’t really on the cards this time around, hopefully, we can still bring you a little bit of Italian magic.”
Daniel Ricciardo delivered McLaren their first race victory in nine years at last season’s Italian Grand Prix.(Pool via Reuters: Lars Baron)
Ricciardo has had a miserable season with only four top 10 finishes and 19 points for the year.
Languishing in 13th in the drivers’ standings, he is 63 points behind Norris, who has easily been the best midfield racer in 2022.
The Briton is the only driver who is not racing for Red Bull, Ferrari or Mercedes to finish on the podium so far this season.
“My last two trips to Monza have been incredibly positive, with last year being one of my favorite F1 memories,” he said.
“It’s likely to be a much trickier weekend for us this year but there is still an opportunity for points.”
Ferrari adds a splash of yellow to mark 75 years
Ferrari F1 unveils special livery celebrating 75 years as a company.(Ferrari)
The stands in Monza will be a usual sea of red for the beloved home team, but Ferrari will be adding yellow to their livery this weekend.
The special livery for their home race is celebrating 75 years of Ferrari as a company.
After a promising start to the season, Ferrari is well behind Red Bull in the constructor’s championship while Charles Leclerc’s hopes of becoming drivers’ champion are almost over.
Ferrari is holding onto second in the constructors’ standings by 30 points ahead of Mercedes, while Leclerc trails world champion Max Verstappen by 109 points.
A win in Monza for the prancing horse will go some way to appeasing Ferrari fans, who are hoping Leclerc or Carlos Sainz can take their first win at Monza since 2019.
