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Ricciardo's win reinforces F1 claims

Geoffrey Harris

Geoffrey Harris

Written on Monday, 30 May 2011 11:55

Daniel Ricciardo has discovered something that beats a motor race victory on the streets of Monaco - doing it twice.

The 21-year from Perth repeated his dominant victory in last year's World Series by Renault race in the rich Mediterranean principality on Sunday under the eyes of the F1 inner circle and many of the rich and famous.

Again he did it from pole position against a host of other youngsters from around the world trying to break into F1's exclusive club of 24 race drivers.

But this time his win was not followed by countryman Mark Webber winning the GP - the Aussie F1 veteran was fourth this time behind Red Bull teammate, reigning world champion and this year's runaway leader Sebastian Vettel.

However, Ricciardo has turned up the wick on his already strong claim for an F1 race drive next year with Red Bull's second team, Italian-based Scuderia Toro Rosso.

Even before Sunday, Ricciardo had virtually been assured of a full-time role in a Toro Rosso cockpit next year by Austrian team principal Franz Tost.

And now he has won successive races in the Renault series.Two weeks ago he triumphed at another world-renowned track, Monza in Italy.

But Monaco is the place every single-seater driver wants to win and Ricciardo said he was "maybe a little bit more relaxed this time".

"Perhaps because it was my second time starting from pole in Monaco," Ricciardo said.

"The (30-lap) race didn't feel as long this year either. I was able to enjoy it a little bit more, even though it was fairlyclose right up until the end."

Runner-up in the series for 3.5-litre Renault-engined open-wheeler cars as a rookie last year with French team Tech 1, Ricciardo is now driving for Czech-owned team ISR.

He finished 0.4 seconds ahead of Canadian Robert Wickens, driving for British team Carlin, on Sunday.

New Zealander Brendon Hartley was another 11 seconds back in third for new team Gravity-Charouz.

After heading practice, qualifying and the race, Ricciardo said his car had felt particularly good.

"I had good pace and I wasn't that bothered by the safety cars (that came out twice during the race)," he said.

"I controlled the restarts (after the safety cars) well. I think Robert [Wickens] was a bit quicker than me after the second safety car - he seemed to be right with me for a couple of laps.

"But I picked up the pace later. I just kept my head down and kept focused. It was a perfect weekend for me.

"To have the opportunity to drive the Toro Rosso F1 car in practice on this famous circuit on Thursday (before Friday's Ascension Day holiday) was amazing.

"To finish the weekend off with a win in the Renault race again is just incredible. It will be a weekend that stays with me for a long time."

Ricciardo has moved up to fifth in the Renault series, from seventh before Monaco, but is unlikely to be a title contender after missing the first two races in Spain because he was at the Chinese GP in Shanghai with Toro Rosso.

While completing a second season in the Renault category, Ricciardo will continue driving for Toro Rosso in Friday morning practice at every remaining GP this year.

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