The Australian had come into the Chinese language Grand Prix off the again of a troublesome begin to the season, the place he had been struggling for tempo towards team-mate Yuki Tsunoda and going through questions over his future.
With no apparent clarification for his difficulties, the group believed a well-timed change of chassis for this weekend would at the least be capable of tick that situation off as a think about his kind.
And having delivered maybe his strongest weekend of the 12 months towards Tsunoda, who has been struggling to discover a good set-up, Ricciardo says he has seen issues feeling totally different this weekend.
Nevertheless, he believed it was far too early to make a judgement instantly on whether or not the chassis change was behind the positive factors or if it was one thing else.
“It seems like a extra regular weekend,” mentioned Ricciardo, who has certified twelfth for Sunday’s Chinese language GP.
“I’d say from the get-go, from yesterday morning, we form of simply felt like we’re in a greater place and every part got here – I do not wish to say simpler, as a result of that sounds too straightforward – however yeah, it simply form of got here a bit extra seamlessly up to now this weekend. It is encouraging, clearly.
“We did change chassis, [but] I do not wish to soar on that but and be like, it is positively that. Clearly, we have to show that over the course of some races. However yeah, there was clearly one thing with the change this weekend.
“To date, it has been my greatest weekend of the 12 months. So, whether or not it is that or whether or not it is simply I’ve at all times form of executed effectively round right here, we’ll see. We’ll see in Miami, and Imola and possibly the following few [races] if it continues.”
With the group having been satisfied that there was nothing fallacious with the chassis that Ricciardo began the season with, the Australian says that if issues keep at this degree for the following few occasions he might have to simply accept that he won’t ever know what the issue was.
“If the following 5 fully do this sort of 180, so to talk, then I’d believe in saying alright, effectively, possibly we are going to by no means know what it was.
“One thing did not make me really feel proper with clearly the earlier chassis I used to be racing.
“I’d like to be right here in 5 races’ time and say that, as a result of then it means the season has positively circled and I’ve form of obtained that monkey off our again.
“We’ll see. However I am inspired up to now with the 2 days we have had right here.”
Shanghai will not be a traditional observe, with its lengthy gradual corners making it significantly difficult on the entrance tyres.
However Ricciardo mentioned that regardless of the distinctive facets, there had been no want for a dramatic change of strategy in how he was coping with his automotive.
“This circuit is usually a bit extra of a front-limited circuit, so it’s a little totally different to in all probability nearly all of tracks by way of the set-up and that.
“However I might be mendacity if I mentioned we modified a lot this weekend. It was somewhat few tweaks right here and there, but it surely’s nothing loopy. So yeah, let’s have a look at.
“So far, it feels every part’s gone extra regular. And proper now regular is sweet.”