Daniel Ricciardo says he is “excited” for Formula 1’s return to Australia this weekend.
F1 last visited the country in 2020, however just hours before the first practice session was due to get underway, organisers announced the cancellation of the event amid the outbreak of Covid-19.
F1’s race in Melbourne was not rescheduled in 2020, and last year, the event was cancelled for the second consecutive season.
However, the sport will venture back to Albert Park this weekend, which is set to be the first time it has raced there since 2019.
With Ricciardo being the only Australian driver on the grid, the McLaren driver has expressed his enthusiasm to return.
“I’m excited to go home. Definitely,” Ricciardo said.
“You know, it’s been a while and yeah, I’ve heard sales have been nuts and it’s going to be an awesome atmosphere.
“So I cannot wait. Obviously it’s personal to me, because I’m Aussie, and it’s a home one and that’s a privilege.
“But every driver I speak to about Melbourne, they love it. They love it as an event.
“And it’s exciting to go through the track changes as well this year, see what kind of racing that produces. So just a big bundle of excitement.”
The Albert Park Circuit has undergone several changes since F1 last competed at the street circuit in 2019.
A number of corners have been widened, while the chicane that made up Turns 9 and 10 is gone, replaced by a flat out blast to the new Turn 9, which was formally Turn 11.
Mercedes and Ferrari are the only teams that have won at the track since the start of F1’s hybrid era in 2014.
An Audi-McLaren deal will be announced soon.