Ricciardo never prematurely saw himself as a WDC winner. He just believed he had demonstrated he was good enough to get the opportunity and machinery to fight for a WDC at least once in his career.
And it's not like he was alone in that belief, by the way.
Instead of criticizing Red Bull for delivering a garbage overweight RB22 with trash aero, failing engine, and wasting Max's genius, you guys decided to be superstitious and pin it all on Daniel Ricciardo. No wonder real life runs you over every single day when you always blame others and luck. VERSTAPPEN! WANTED! THIS! NUMBER! HIMSELF!