Daniel Ricciardo confident Monaco form can continue with Renault

Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo confident Monaco form can continue with Renault

He's got a great record in Monte Carlo.

Matthew Scott

Monday 20 May 2019 16:04 Updated: 16:38

Daniel Ricciardo hopes that his recent run of excellent form at the Monaco Grand Prix will continue this week, despite a sluggish start to life with Renault so far. Ricciardo scored a 'best of the rest' seventh in China, but went scoreless in every other race so far this year, failing to see the chequered flag in three.

Ricciardo was on the podium in four of the last five years at Monaco with Red Bull and took a superb victory from pole in the principality last year, clinging on despite suffering an engine issue early in the race.

The Australian's high-profile switch to the French manufacturer has failed to bear significant fruit thus far, but he hopes his past form, and Monaco's tendency for the unusual will help him this week.

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"I'm actually really curious to go to Monaco, I'm curious to see how it all feels," he said. "I'm excited to go back there because I've always loved it.

Frame – 2018 winner and 2-time #MonacoGP pole-sitter Daniel Ricciardo has led more Grand Prix laps in the #Principality since 2016 (102), than either Mercedes or Ferrari have led as a team. #Monaco @F1 @Ricciardo @RedBullRacing #MondayMotivation @DanielRicciardo @GPFansGlobal pic.twitter.com/Wb6aaAlJgT
— Mobil 1 The Grid (@Mobil1TheGrid) May 20, 2019

"I think of [Robert] Kubica putting it on P2 a few years ago, [Pastor] Maldonado, he was always a bit of a Monaco beast at getting the car at the time a bit further up.

"I'm definitely optimistic that if I can drive the track the way I want to drive it then I can get the car further up than maybe it might be on a normal track.

"Whether further up means the top six or top five, we'll see. I'm excited."

An upgrade package in Spain last time out failed to deliver the required results as Ricciardo and team-mate Nico Hulkenberg rarely featured in the fight for points, but the reigning Monte Carlo race-winner hopes this week will be more of a case of drivers making the difference.

"Monaco is quite unique, but I think the biggest thing is confidence," he said.

"On Thursday, all I'll want to do is get out of myself to be confident with the car and have the confidence to tackle the kerbs and brake where I want to brake. I think, if I can get that, then I'll be able to do something."