Ricciardo wants to return to a “more basic” approach with the R.S.19

Winner in China twelve months ago, the chances of seeing each other again Daniel Ricciardo on the top step of the podium in Shanghai remain, it must be admitted, slim this year. The Australian driver, new Renault recruit F1 Team, will above all seek to score its first points with its new team, but above all aims to modify its approach with the RS19.

“I'm trying to get my bearings and my engineers are trying to work with me, and I think we're probably all trying to be maybe a little too clever with the car, indicated Ricciardo in China. I don't mean that because you're always trying to find the limits.

But for now we just have to keep a more basic approach, do what we can and do it well, and probably not look for the extra 1%. There is more to come by being comfortable and working well together.

Let's try to have a car that I feel comfortable with, rather than searching for the perfect car, with the changes involved. I would like to think that I can adapt and resolve this situation, but I believe that right now I will be better with something that I am comfortable with and I am more consistent. »

But would adapting change too much the Australian's driving style, one of the most offensive in the peloton? “I think our style is still part of us, but... The hardest thing is that there are a lot of things that I learned and that I brought from Red Bull.

But I need to forget about it in a sense, because it's a different car. With the Red Bull, I kept a lot of speed entering the corner and the rear followed, but here the approach is different. I don't think my style will necessarily change, I still have to be aggressive on the brakes and on a lap. This will come with confidence. I have not yet reached this level when braking. But it will come. »

The former Red Bull driver believes that the tests carried out after the Bahrain Grand Prix were productive in this regard. “After the race weekend, testing and driving the car in a calmer environment was good. I think we found some directions to work on.

If I'm going to learn things throughout the year, to rise to the level, I think that will come very soon. I hope to be in Q3 this weekend and we will see. »