MELBOURNE, Australia — Formula One mania in Australia has certainly not been lost on Daniel Ricciardo.
The McLaren driver and local hero, who is gearing up for his first Australian Grand Prix since 2019 and ninth as a fulltime driver, admits he’s never experienced anything quite like what’s taking place this year in Melbourne.
“It’s always been pretty wild here, there’s no denying that,” said Ricciardo on Friday morning. “But it felt like it was turned up a notch, or two, or three. Yesterday was a perfect example. It’s a Thursday and the walk in … the fans … I don’t know if they thought the race was yesterday, but it felt like a Sunday.
“For a Thursday, and I’m talking around the world, it was the busiest Thursday I’ve ever experienced walking into a paddock. That certainly stood out. It’s awesome. It’s definitely a good crazy and there’s a lot of support and love. I think everyone’s just stoked to have the race back. It’s a special feeling.”
Daniel Ricciardo speaks ahead of the…
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