Daniel Ricciardo is eyeing up a shot at the world title after his second straight win and third in six races brought him within striking distance of warring championship leaders Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.
The Red Bull driver’s triumph in Sunday’s stormy Belgian Grand Prix cut the gap to second-placed Hamilton to 36 points and trimmed Rosberg’s advantage to 64 with seven races remaining – and double points on offer at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“It is great,†said the beaming Australian. “We are really motivated right now and it has been a really good day for us on a track where we didn’t expect to get maximum points.
“If I am within 50 coming into Abu Dhabi then, yeah… There are still a few races to go. Definitely, while it is still mathematically possible we will keep fighting.
“To come and steal some points where we were not supposed to is nice.
“What is important now to look ahead is to capitalise on the circuits we can be strong on – if we can take maximum points at a couple of those it is never over.
“I see good things ahead if we can collect maximum points around here.
“It gives us a bit more hope for the circuits that are going to come later in the season – Singapore and Suzuka, just a couple to mention.
“I’ll keep smiling for a while but I still stay grounded.
“Monza, I know, will be tricky again, bur the package we bought here was pretty racy so we’ll try to take something from here to Monza – and both Singapore and Suzuka will be pretty good for us.”