Ricciardo wants Singapore podium to bear fruit
DANIEL Ricciardo wants another Formula One win in 2017 to confirm his belief he will be a contender for next year’s championship.
And the Australian indicated tomorrow’s race in Singapore may be his best chance of the remaining seven races to claim a second win of the year.
Ricciardo has finished on the dais in his last three trips to Singapore, setting the fastest lap for the past two years and finishing runner-up on both occasions.
He has arrived this year after six podiums in the last nine races.
The Perth-born driver also came from 16th to finish fourth last-start in Italy in an impressive display of overtaking.
“We’ve certainly got stronger and stronger,” the 28-yearold said yesterday.
The Singapore street circuit is believed to best suit Ferrari as Sebastian Vettel aims to reclaim the championship lead from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
Ricciardo, ranked fourth but outside title contention this year, is adamant he can provide a strong challenge.
“It doesn’t seem like these sort of circuits this year are a strength of Mercedes’ either so I think it could bring Ferrari and us really into that battle. I hope at least it’s going to be a tight and exciting one.”
A strong second-half of this season was crucial to his prospects next year, he said.
“I believe we can win another (race) and then obviously next year to start accumulating more and obviously fight for a title.”