Podiums In Spain And Monaco, Maiden F1 Victory In Canada. What Next For D. Ricc.?

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, AGP. (C)

    With the 2014 Formula One championship approaching the halfway point and the European season in full swing, early season punter grievances regarding engine note or lack thereof seem rather insignificant after some scintillating racing has kept us thoroughly enthralled. Bahrain was simply edge of the chair viewing. Wheel to wheel right through the grid. Team mate battling team mate. The best race in eons. F1 racing at its finest.
    Which leads us to last weekend's fascinating Canadian GP, especially exciting for all F1 fans Down Under. With what seemed like yet another Mercedes whitewash, brake issues saw Lewis Hamilton retire and team mate Nico Rosberg slow, blowing the race wide open with 20 odd laps to go. The one-stopping Force India of Sergio Perez was being harried for third by the faster Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel, closely followed by Williams' Felipe Massa. An opportunistic move by Ricciardo around the outside going into Turn 1, saw the Aussie despatch Perez with 5 laps to go, leaving him to chase down the wounded Rosberg. With DRS at his disposal, Ricciardo overtook Rosberg into the last chicane to take the lead with only 2 laps to go. Despite finishing under Safety Car conditions due to a major crash between the squabbling Perez and Massa (both drivers are OK), Ricciardo emphatically claimed his first F1 race victory. Well done D. Ricc. We were certainly glad we got up at 3.30am to watch the race.
    Question is. Can Daniel Ricciardo capitalise on his Canadian victory and sustain his impressive performance throughout the remainder of the season? Will he become a frequent visitor to the top step of the podium? At the moment he's out-qualifying and out-racing Red Bull team mate and 4-time champ Vettel, but will he handle the increased pressure as the season ramps up? He's scarcely made a mistake so far.
    Red Bull's home race is next at the newly revamped Red Bull Ring at Spielberg, Austria. Sure to be a massive Sebastian Vettel contingent there. Good test. Go D. Ricc.
            Cheers....
  

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