Ricciardo not fooled by Hulkenberg's record
Daniel Ricciardo will not be fooled by 2019 Renault Formula 1 teammate Nico Hulkenberg's record without a podium because he believes the German is "not that level of driver".
Despite being widely regarded as one of the most impressive drivers on the F1 grid, as well as having won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2015, Hulkenberg has yet to appear on the podium in 156 grands prix starts.
Ricciardo has left Red Bull, where he scored seven wins and 29 podiums during a five-year spell at the team, to partner Hulkenberg at the Renault works team.
He says he will need the happy memories of his time and success at Red Bull to ease the transition at his new team and beat Hulkenberg.
"I'll certainly take a lot of the highs with me and take them with me as confidence moving to Renault," Ricciardo told Motorsport.com.
"And I'll need that as well because of Nico.
"I think that everyone who knows F1 knows his calibre. From the outside, you can think that he's done 200 races or whatever and never had a podium, but we all know he isn't that level of driver.
"So I know I'll need to bring all of this, not only to beat him, but also to help fast-track the team to progress."
Ricciardo's final season with Red Bull was marred by reliability problems and he was comprehensively defeated by teammate Max Verstappen in the championship.
However, his 2018 highlights include a long-awaited win in Monaco despite an MGU-K failure, and Ricciardo says memories like that are very powerful.
"I'll still hold onto Monaco forever because the aftermath of all that was the biggest high I've ever had," Ricciardo said.
"Walking back into the Energy Station that day after doing all the press - just seeing everyone…It was full, and I got a standing ovation, and I was so proud that everyone was so happy for me.
"I do this for myself, this sport, and the day I stop loving it I'll stop. Having that effect and making so many other people happy, that was awesome.
"That moment made me feel like I'm not just doing this for myself."
Share Or Save This Story
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Carlos Sainz hits out at “stupid risks” from F1 rivals: ‘How can a veteran like Nico do this?’
Audi F1's Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto test new Nuvolari supercar ahead of Monaco GP
Why some F1 team bosses think drivers shouldn't have a say in the rules
On this day: Michael Schumacher’s final unsportsmanlike manoeuvre
20 years ago, Michael Schumacher held off Fernando Alonso in Imola F1 duel
Romain Grosjean turns 40 – here’s his career in 10 key moments
Alpine clears first hurdle in Monaco penalty challenge as FOM admits error
Toyota sees “two-class” split emerging between LMDh and LMH at Le Mans
What is ADUO? How F1's engine catch-up system works, and became political
Pierre Gasly calls Monaco penalty ordeal "the hardest day" of his F1 career
Anti-racing or ingenuity? Monaco's hold-up tactics might be in F1 for good
What could drive McLaren to build its own F1 engine
No more naysayers, surely? How Monaco proved Kimi Antonelli's searing form wasn't just luck
Why Toto Wolff may need to try some distraction tactics
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments