Daniel Ricciardo is confident starting on the supersoft tyre for today's Monaco Grand Prix gives him a further advantage over the rest of the field.
In Q2 on Saturday, Ricciardo did his first run on ultrasoft tyres but then managed to improve on the supersoft to ensure he will start on the red-walled compound. With the rest of the top ten starting on ultrasofts, Ricciardo believes the move gives him more freedom to pit at the right time in the race.
"I think we feel it’s not going to change too much off the start and then it just opens up… as we saw Q2, my lap was quicker on the supersoft than on the ultrasoft, so I don’t think there’s that much difference in the tyre," Ricciardo said.
"The pure performance. I mean sure, there’s a few tenths, but I don’t think as much as what we thought coming into the weekend. And then I think obviously it should have a little bit better tyre life.
"It just opens up maybe a few more windows in the race, and here it’s so important obviously to come out and be in clean air and not come out in traffic, so it could just open up a bigger window for us and give us a bit more freedom when to pit."
Asked if he will feel any additional pressure or struggle to manage his emotions during the race starting from pole in Monaco, Ricciardo replied: "No different.
"I think winning a race is a bit more than getting a pole. I’ve experienced that a few times a few years ago. I feel it’s been a long time coming, this, so it’s just more...I feel it should have come sooner but obviously I’m happy that I’ve done it but yeah, no other feelings or anything.
"Coming into the race, it’s just carry the confidence from the weekend and execute a good start and then pick a good window to pit in."
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