With four consecutive podium finishes to his name, Daniel Ricciardo is keen to go one better and finally take victory at the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend.
The Australian is quite a specialist around street circuits, having won in Baku and Monaco yet Marina Bay has been a case of close but not close enough during his time with Red Bull.
Having failed to finish four of the past six races this season, Ricciardo is also keen to get his season back on track with this weekend possibly his best chance to win before leaving for Renault.
“As everyone knows, I love street circuits. The feeling of driving on the edge, so close to the walls, is something you just can’t get enough of,” he said in his preview.
“It’s the original night race and the schedule is always pretty hectic but there is something kind of romantic about going to the track at night and then to bed at four or five in the morning.
“It’s a place where I also have good races and finish pretty strong, so it’s about time I win the damn thing.”
As a major transport hub, Singapore is somewhat of a home race for the 29-year-old with many Australians making the trip to the city-state, yet his love for the Singapore GP took time to emerge.
“For me, the first year I raced there in 2011 was one of the worst races I have been involved in,” he explained.
“Physically it was so intense, I just underestimated how hard it would be. I wasn’t in a happy place after that race, it gave me a feeling I never want to experience in a race car again, so I made a promise to myself that I would always come to Singapore over-prepared.
“In a way, this is now something I take pride in; I always get there feeling really sharp and well prepared. I now really like that challenge and I also thrive in the heat. In a strange way, the pain has become pleasure over the years.”