Ricciardo reveals "input" into new Australian GP circuit

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed to playing his part in the redesign of Melbourne's Albert Park that will be unveiled with the F1 return of this year's Australian Grand Prix.

A track virtually unchanged since its debut 25 years ago has undergone a significant revamp it is hoped will lead to more of a racing spectacle, in tandem with the new aerodynamic regulations regarding the cars.

The project began three years ago, with the alterations able to take place over the last two years, in particular, due to F1's hiatus from Australia in light of the pandemic.

"I think with the new design at Albert Park it's really focused on improving the racing, the spectacle for Sunday, to create more opportunities for overtaking," said Ricciardo, speaking in the first part of a four-part video entitled 'The Evolution of Albert Park: The Brand New F1 Australian Grand Prix Circuit'.

"It's a beautiful circuit but it's always been quite narrow and tight and, therefore, quite tricky to overtake so we've really tried to exploit some areas to allow more slipstreaming, more chance of overtaking under braking.

"So I think it is going to be a different spectacle this time around."

Outlining his involvement, Ricciardo added: "That's what I was really happy with, that a bunch of us drivers were consulted on this. We were allowed to give our thoughts and input.

"Every driver, we might not all be aligned but I think the purpose of this is to make the Sunday better. I had that in mind when I gave my input."

Alongside a resurfacing of the track for the first time since F1 debuted in Melbourne in 1996, numerous corners have been widened and reprofiled.

Ricciardo added: "If 2022 promises everything it does, with being able to follow and the racing to be enhanced, then coming to a circuit like Albert Park, with these changes, should make for a pretty amazing spectacle."

You can watch the video here...

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