New training regime could give Ricciardo unexpected edge

Aussie Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo will head home in the form of his life for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 26, despite knowing his new car may not immediately be able to match Mercedes and Ferrari.

The 27-year-old spent six weeks over the off-season sweating up a storm in his hometown of Perth with fellow Aussie trainer Stuart Smith, before flying to Los Angeles for more preparation without distraction.

"It was pretty awesome. That was the most 'me' time I've had to start a season," Ricciardo said.

"I definitely feel like I'm in good nick, but I want to obviously keep on top of it and keep getting better. So I feel like I've started off definitely on the right foot but it's a season we probably won't be able to taper off too much."

The need for Olympian-level fitness is all to be able to handle F1's new breed of cars, which are not only more aggressive-looking with wider tyres, but already more than three seconds faster than their 2016 predecessors, with more time to be shaved off at Albert Park.

But, quicker laps and faster average speeds mean extra G-forces for the drivers to handle, upping the thrill and the challenge.

"You get that little bit more of a rush through those corners and then physically, it does start to beat you up a bit more," said Ricciardo, the tougher cars in aid of again making the driver the limit of performance.

"Some races we'll finish the race in pretty good nick, but I'm sure we're going to get to some, especially the hot ones, and you will see a few of us reaching out for some water mid-race."

Of course, the first fitness test will be when the teams touch down in Melbourne, but the real challenge will be from September 15-17, at the Singapore Grand Prix – which is hosting its 10th event this year.

"It's the one race where the drivers look battered when they get out of the cars," says F1 commentator Martin Brundle, an ex-driver of 158 Grand Prix starts.

For the fans, it's an intoxicating mix of F1 under lights, top international artists (last year it was headlined by our own pop princess Kylie Minogue, rock icons Queen and Adam Lambert and US-band Imagine Dragons) – along with a host of race-themed activities, cool bars and hawker-style eateries.

For the drivers, it's a huge test of human endurance with cockpit temperatures reaching 55 degrees at racing speeds, made much worse by three layers of fireproof clothing and a helmet. As a result the drivers will lose up to 3kg in fluid over a two-hour period.

"It's normally the longest race of the year and a pretty brutal and physical circuit so not much place to rest [through the lap]. It's a great challenge for the drivers," says Ricciardo.

But, while the Australian is fighting fit for the new season – his all-new Red Bull Racing car, the RB13, may need more time to come up to speed.

Neither Ricciardo, nor hotshot teammate Max Verstappen, set the timing sheets alight during pre-season testing – the pair unable to get close to the top time of Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen, and only completing 62 per cent of the laps run by the benchmark Mercedes.

However, all of it is largely meaningless until all drivers are running at the same time, on low-fuel and on the same tyres at Albert Park.

And Ricciardo, for one, is positive about what he can achieve at his home race – fourth his best there, achieved last year.

"I think anything's possible, for many reasons, because we still haven't seen the true pace of all us top teams – and it's Melbourne, it's the first race of the year," he said.

"The weather could throw a curve ball at us. Even the run to Turn 1, [at the] first race, we haven't raced in I think it will be about four months by then.

"Anyway it's a long time so I think for me personally I just get there prepared, it will be a busy week with media and all the hype and all that.

"I'll just do what I gotta do, I feel I've handled it well the last few years. I'd love to be on the podium, that's certainly my aim, but I'm not going to go there with too many hopes or dreams in my head, I'll just go there prepared and do what I can."