F1 2022: Formula One, Daniel Ricciardo, Italian Grand Prix at Monza, McLaren, news, wins

Daniel Ricciardo won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza last year. It was a glorious weekend for him. He was promoted from second on the grid to start the Grand prix from the front. Ricriardo was sacked by McLaren less than 12 months later. This year's race at the Mona is going to be more subdued. He is looking forward to the future. The team is in a different position this year and will be fighting for the podium. They are looking for a podium finish. There will probably be some weird feelings going back.

Ricciardo is struggling to find his form after McLaren terminated his contract a year early. He finished second-last at the Dutch Grand Prix. The team is also struggling for consistency. He is aware he is not superhuman. His team are struggling in the title race. They are further away from the top four in standings. Ricciardo is trying to focus on his racing. But he admits he still feels like he's not himself. It's a difficult time for him. he feels he needs to keep his head. There are still demons that haunted him during his McLaren tenure.

Ricciardo is considering a sabbatical and leaving Formula One. Pierre Gasly is the most competitive team with a seat still available. Ricciard abandoned the team after two years. He's highly rated but treated with scepticism in the paddock. Alex Yoong, who raced alongside Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber at the Australian-run Minardi team, says it's common for drivers to be sucked into bad decision-making at this stage of their careers. He has talked to Jenson Button and David Coulthard about this. They both think their last couple of choices weren't as good as they thought.

Ricciardo is still committed to his career. He has no contract for next year. The last seven races of the year are the final seven grands prix of his Formula One career and he wants to perform well. Ricciardo is proud to have come through the last 18 months with his head high. He is also proud that he hasn't been broken. His capacity for success still exists. It's races like last year’s Italian Grand Prix that underline his commitment to the cause.