Daniel Ricciardo heads back to the scene of his maiden Grand Prix win this weekend in Montreal, a venue which the Australian openly admits he is infatuated with.

"Winning has made me love it a little bit more but really I've loved it since my first lap, back when I was driving for Toro Rosso. I remember coming back into the pits and saying "what a circuit," I was amazed at how good it was – and I'd only done an install."

Last year, Ricciardo was the first and only driver to break Mercedes' supremacy, and it all started in Canada. The achievement proved popular with all in the F1 paddock and led to a festive evening of celebrations in the city.

"There was – but I was very restrained and in bed by 1.30am," remembers smiling Dan. "There's a point where the adrenaline wears off and suddenly you're absolutely exhausted. I remember falling into bed, thinking "wow, crazy day," and out went the lights. Fortunately the crew are made of sterner stuff and kept the party going. They were not a pretty sight at breakfast the following day..."

While Red Bull's current performance rate leaves a lot to be desired, Ricciardo hopes it will taking nothing away from the pleasures derived from racing on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

"It's just a ridiculous amount of fun. You can jump across the kerbs and really get the car bouncing around. It's like getting back to go-kart days, you really feel like you own it – and I love that. You can get aggressive with it, and aim to just brush the wall. There's a lot of risk but that brings a lot of adrenaline with it. It'd be wonderful if you were doing it in isolation but with 100,000 screaming fans urging you on, it's just mega."

Click here for a look back at Robert Kubica's only Formula One victory in Canada 

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Sad Colapinto laments two crashes in one day in Sao Paulo

Williams suffered a bruising time on Sunday in Sao Paulo, with Alex Albon unable to…

20 mins ago

McLaren: No regrets over timing of Norris pit stop in Sao Paulo GP

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has insisted that the squad has no regrets about their…

2 hours ago

Williams' Boutsen hoists the mainsail in Adelaide

On this day in 1989, Williams' Thierry Boutsen secured his second F1 win when he…

3 hours ago

Horner: Max 'answered critics' with epic Sao Paulo GP drive

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hailed Max Verstappen’s sensational Sao Paulo Grand Prix victory…

4 hours ago

Sainz left puzzled by double crash drama in rainy São Paulo

Carlos Sainz was left scratching his head after a disastrous Sunday at the Sao Paulo…

5 hours ago

Alonso pushed through agonizing pain to complete Sao Paulo GP

Fernando Alonso braved both physical agony and mechanical challenges in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix,…

6 hours ago