MELBOURNE, Australia - Daniel Ricciardo believes 2014 proved he can handle Formula 1 pressure and that he's ready to assume the burden of hometown expectations in the 2015 season-opener here on March 15.
Ricciardo has been feted like a superstar ahead of the 2015 Australian GP, a contrast to 2014 when he was No.2 to Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull and still struggling to step out of Mark Webber's shadow.
A podium place from his home race, although lost to a heartbreaking disqualification, and his first three race wins, however, saw him finish third in the 2014 Drivers' championship and the upstaged Vettel head off to Ferrari.