- Title: Ricciardo joins in on Day of the Dead festivities ahead of Mexico's F1
- Date: 27th October 2016
- Summary: ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** RICCIARDO ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE RICCIARDO DURING INTERVIEW WITH REUTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) F1 DRIVER DANIEL RICCIARDO, SAYING: "I don't have a preference, I'd love it to be me but I think they both had good seasons at various points. I think Nico (Rosberg) has put himself in a strong position so I think he is in a better position now to win it. It's going to take a bit more from Lewis (Hamilton). I think Lewis needs to win all the races, Nico needs to have maybe one bad race. But it's going to be exciting and I think Nico can do it." RICCIARDO POSING FOR MEDIA WITH CANDY SKULL AND DAY OF THE DEAD MAKE UP (SOUNDBITE) (English) F1 DRIVER DANIEL RICCIARDO, SAYING: "Well you know last year it was so new, the track was very slippery and very hard to find a good set up with the car, to understand what you needed. I think this year it will feel a bit more conventional, a bit more of something we're used to so hopefully that means we can get our set up a bit easier and get the most out of the Red Bull car. I think like that it will help us get to the podium." DAY OF THE DEAD DECORATION AT NEWS CONFERENCE F1 BANNER FOR GERMAN DRIVER SEBASTIAN VETTEL VETTEL ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE AUDIENCE MEMBER TAKING PHOTO VETTEL GREETING PEOPLE AUDIENCE TAKING PICTURES VETTEL POSING FOR MEDIA WITH PEOPLE AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GERMAN DRIVER SEBASTIAN VETTEL, SAYING: "Generally no, we don't have a particular package for hear just because usually being so high up you lose a lot of the down force so you try to put whatever down force you have on the car. That's what we are trying to do again this year. Obviously we generally try to put a lot of down force on the car to go faster in the corners. It is a different challenge up here to match the needs of one down force and the other is the cooling which obviously is difficult to cool the cars down so it is a particular challenge, we've had one experience last year. I think we will partly use the experience we've made also to perform well this year." VETTEL ON STAGE AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GERMAN DRIVER SEBASTIAN VETTEL, SAYING: "I think there is always a chance. Obviously as it stands currently Mercedes is a very, very dominant form and difficult to beat for anyone but I think if you look at the last couple of races we've been a fair match with Red Bull, sometimes a little bit behind, sometimes in front so we will find out where we are this weekend. But as I said there is always a chance to win, you never know what is happening. If we all knew the result now than I don't think there is any point for the fans, spectators, for us to go to the track and find out. I think that is the good news. We are going racing in the end and anything can happen." VARIOUS OF VETTEL SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS
- Embargoed: 11th November 2016 02:39
- Keywords: Formula 1 Mexico Daniel Ricciardo racing
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Motor Racing,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00255S3VWJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Australia's Daniel Ricciardo helped celebrate Day of the Dead in Mexico City on Wednesday (October 28) just days ahead of the capital's F1 race in which he is seeking to narrow the gap between Team Red Bull and Team Mercedes.
Ricciardo is currently third with 227, behind Lewis Hamilton with 305 and Nico Rosberg with 331, both from Team Mercedes.
During an interview with Reuters, the Australian said he was confident that Rosberg will come out on top at the race.
"I don't have a preference, I'd love it to be me but I think they both had good seasons at various points. I think Nico (Rosberg) has put himself in a strong position so I think he is in a better position now to win it. It's going to take a bit more from Lewis (Hamilton). I think Lewis needs to win all the races, Nico needs to have maybe one bad race. But it's going to be exciting and I think Nico can do it," he said.
Ricciardo is coming into the Mexican track in a better position than in 2015. He finished fifth last year on the new circuit but is confident of better results this time around.
"Well you know last year it was so new, the track was very slippery and very hard to find a good set up with the car, to understand what you needed. I think this year it will feel a bit more conventional, a bit more of something we're used to so hopefully that means we can get our set up a bit easier and get the most out of the Red Bull car. I think like that it will help us get to the podium," he added.
Sitting behind Ricciardo in fourth place is Germany's Sebastian Vettel, the four-time champion for Ferrari.
Mexico City's F1 circuit is one of the most difficult in the competition, with the capital sitting some 2,200 metres (7,200 feet) above sea level and surrounded by mountains and volcanoes.
Vettel explained the effect such a terrain has on his Ferrari vehicle.
"Generally no, we don't have a particular package for hear just because usually being so high up you lose a lot of the down force so you try to put whatever down force you have on the car. That's what we are trying to do again this year. Obviously we generally try to put a lot of down force on the car to go faster in the corners. It is a different challenge up here to match the needs of one down force and the other is the cooling which obviously is difficult to cool the cars down so it is a particular challenge, we've had one experience last year. I think we will partly use the experience we've made also to perform well this year," said Vettel.
The German driver's deal with Ferrari is due to expire at the end of 2017 so he is looking for strong results in Mexico.
"I think there is always a chance. Obviously as it stands currently Mercedes is a very, very dominant form and difficult to beat for anyone but I think if you look at the last couple of races we've been a fair match with Red Bull, sometimes a little bit behind, sometimes in front so we will find out where we are this weekend. But as I said there is always a chance to win, you never know what is happening. If we all knew the result now than I don't think there is any point for the fans, spectators, for us to go to the track and find out. I think that is the good news. We are going racing in the end and anything can happen," said a hopeful Vettel.
The Mexican Grand Prix runs from Friday (October 28) for three days. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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