Daniel Ricciardo compared the attention he received upon his return to the Hungarian Grand Prix to the feeling of winning a championship. The Australian driver, who joined Red Bull for a one-year deal in a third driver role, stepped in to replace Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri after 10 races. The media showed significant interest in him, with a Netflix Drive To Survive camera crew following him on media day and journalists crowding his interviews in Red Bull hospitality.
Despite finishing 13th after getting caught up in the Turn 1 incident that involved both Alpines, Ricciardo was content with his performance and the overall weekend experience. He humorously mentioned that he thought the media might have forgotten about him already, but the attention he received made him feel like he had achieved a world championship victory.
Reflecting on his return, Ricciardo emphasized that he enjoyed the chaos of the weekend and appreciated the experience of going racing again. He realized that his weekends should be judged not solely on race results but also on whether he maximized the potential of his car. Though he qualified and finished 13th, he found genuine happiness and satisfaction in the whole experience, making it a more enjoyable outing than he had often experienced in the past year.
Ricciardo acknowledged that while he is still results-driven, he wants to find happiness and fulfillment in the process and effort he puts into each race, not solely on the outcome. He felt content with everything he contributed during the weekend and appreciated the support he received from the team.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ricciardo
Q: What role did Daniel Ricciardo play in the Hungarian Grand Prix?
A: Daniel Ricciardo was parachuted in to replace Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri after 10 races as part of his one-year deal with Red Bull in a third driver role.
Q: Why did the media show significant interest in Ricciardo during the Hungarian Grand Prix?
A: The media showed significant interest in Ricciardo during the Hungarian Grand Prix because a Netflix Drive To Survive camera crew followed him on media day, and his interviews with journalists in Red Bull hospitality were well-attended.
Q: How did Ricciardo feel about the attention he received in Hungary?
A: Ricciardo joked that the attention he garnered in Hungary made him feel as though he had won the world championship. He seemed to enjoy the media interest and the overall experience of the race weekend.
Q: How did Ricciardo assess his performance during the Hungarian Grand Prix?
A: Although he qualified and finished 13th after getting caught up in a first-lap incident, Ricciardo was happy with his performance. He focused on the joy of racing and the experience rather than just the race results.
Q: What did Ricciardo emphasize in terms of his racing approach?
A: Ricciardo emphasized that he wanted to find happiness in the process and effort he puts into racing, not solely on the outcome. He felt content with his contributions to the weekend and the support he received from the team.
Q: What does Ricciardo’s positive experience in Hungary mean for his racing approach going forward?
A: Ricciardo’s positive experience in Hungary means that he wants to prioritize enjoying the racing process and maximizing his car’s potential, rather than solely focusing on race results.