Ricciardo: I feel I am owed win in Monaco GP

Daniel Ricciardo will line up on the starting grid for tomorrow’s Monaco Grand Prix firmly in the belief that Red Bull owe him a victory on Formula One’s most famous streets.

All eyes are on Red Bull after Ricciardo cemented their status as the pre-race favourites by posting the fastest lap ever recorded in Monte Carlo en route to completing a practice double on Thursday.

Ricciardo, 28, is yet to open his winning account at his adopted home, but should have taken to the top step of the podium two years ago. The Australian was controlling the race before his pit crew botched his stop. He went in, Red Bull were not ready with new tyres, and the ensuing delay allowed Lewis Hamilton to steal the victory.

“Yes, I do feel I am owed a win,” Ricciardo said on the eve of this weekend’s race. “But I have got to earn it. It is not going to happen without me putting the effort in. It is not going to happen because it should have already.”

The slow-speed nature of F1’s blue-riband event is one that plays to Red Bull’s strengths. But for championship leader Hamilton, who holds a 17-point lead over Sebastian Vettel, tomorrow’s race may prove a case of damagelimitation.

He was off the pace last year and finished fourth in practice. Indeed Mercedes, who can count the Monte Carlo venue as one of their bogey tracks, arrived here insisting Red Bull would be the favourites.

Away from the track, FIA president Jean Todt touched down in Monaco yesterday amid allegations that his former team Ferrari have been bending the rules.

Vettel won the opening two championship rounds and rivals believe the Italians have been gaining an unfair advantage by deploying more engine power than is permitted.

The FIA has demanded that Ferrari run a device on their engine this weekend to ensure they are sticking to the rules.