Perth’s Daniel Ricciardo remains the media focus in the count-down to Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Adopting the ‘other’ side of the Red Bull garage (alongside world champions Sebastian Vettel), vacated by fellow Aussie Mark Webber was always going to be a tough gig – especially as Webber often claimed Red Bull mover-mover-and-shaker Dr Helmut Marko favoured Vettel (whom he’s groomed for stardom since and early age.
But unlike Webber, Ricciardo has climbed through the ranks as part of the same Red Bull junior program as Vettel.
“I’m 100 per cent sure they are going to give me as much opportunity as Seb,” Ricciardo said. “Where Mark, for whatever reasons, maybe did (question the equality), it won’t be the case (with me). I’ll come with a positive approach.”
Meanwhile, after visiting the final F1 test held in Bahrain, former Ferrari team driver Gerhard Berger has backed-away from his earlier criticism of the new 2014 technical regulations of turbocharged V6 engines, energy recovery systems and limits of fuel use.
“At first I found it too technical, too complicated for the fans,” Berger said. “But I need to revise that – this is pure Formula One.”
“The cars are 20km/h faster on the straights and they also have real power out of the corners,” he added. “The criticism (of the exhaust noise) is coming mainly from people who have not heard them”.
Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park Racing Circuit
Friday March 14
Practice 1: 12.30pm – 2pm
Practice 2: 4.30pm – 6pm
Saturday March 15
Practice 3: 2pm – 3pm
Qualifying: 5pm
Sunday March 16
Race: 5pm
