Ricciardo is determined to keep his seat: 'I know the speed is there'

"I think this year hasn't really been always a question of if I've still got the speed to do it. It's just been yeah the consistency which I haven't been able to show it week in week out so it's definitely been more of a struggle more than I thought," Ricciardo said after qualifying. So the speed is still there according to Ricciardo, but where does the crux lie? "It's just tapping into it and I look at myself first like so you know you're always trying to fine tune the car but I feel like it's more just getting myself in that sweet spot and maybe 10 years ago it came easier maybe when you're in the car," said the Australian.

Back in time with Ricciardo

It was exactly 10 years ago this weekend that the 34-year-old driver took his first victory in F1, in Canada by the way. So according to him, it was easier to get into the sweet spot then: "When you're a kid you just jump in and drive and the older you get the more things that are around your life and involved and can maybe interfere so it's just trying to yeah acknowledge that and make sure I'm coming into the weekendith a clear head and just ready to go."

This article was written in collaboration with Sophia Crothall