Daniel Ricciardo says the famous Spa-Francorchamps layout no longer gives him a "rush" over a single lap.
Ask any Formula 1 driver to name their favourite circuit and the Belgian Grand Prix venue, with its sweeps and swoops, will be near to or at the top of the list for many.
However, the do-or-die challenge that Spa once provided on a qualifying lap has been neutered in today's F1 cars as the Renault man explained.
"Spa is so iconic," said Ricciardo. "I think everyone knows why it’s a great place to race and one of the jewels in the Formula 1 crown.
"Nowadays, I actually get more of a thrill from racing there rather than in qualifying. We’ve done so many laps there in the high-downforce cars that a bit of that single-lap rush has gone.
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"Eau Rouge is full throttle and in race trim with a big tank of fuel in someone’s slipstream, it becomes a real corner where you’re sliding on four wheels, which is pretty epic.
"There’s also Pouhon and Blanchimont, which are not that easy in race conditions. It’s a place where you can overtake, you can defend and it’s high-speed racing. It’s so intense and I really like it."
This weekend's race in the Ardennes Forest kicks off the third straight tripleheader to start the delayed 2020 season, with back-to-back race in Italy, at Monza and Mugello, to follow.
And while some drivers admit the hectic schedule is a little bit too much, Ricciardo says the worst part is when the adrenaline stops.
"It’s strange actually as you’re the most race fit you’ve been because you’re in the car so much," he said. "In the car, I feel as strong as I ever have.
"It’s the days off when you feel it. In between races, you feel flatter and more fatigued and there’s not a whole lot of training going on.
"It’s really resting and recovering. [But] we’re driving so regularly our body is maintaining a lot of that race fitness."
