Ricciardo Regains Confidence in F1 Qualifying Comeback

Daniel Ricciardo successfully qualified in the 13th position for AlphaTauri in Budapest, even as his teammate Yuki Tsunoda struggled, finishing in the 17th spot, unable to advance beyond Q1.

Ricciardo, the Australian F1 driver, acknowledged that it was challenging to step back into the driver’s seat, but he enjoyed a sense of relaxation and contentment in doing so.

“Knowing there was a considerable task ahead of me coming into the weekend, I tried not to overly focus on my performance,” Ricciardo confessed. “As a race car driver, there’s always a level of expectation, but I consciously tried to minimize that and find my rhythm again in the sport I love.

“I felt quite at ease and, without being flippant, was glad to be back and able to push a car to its limits again,” he added. “In the past year or two, I haven’t had this opportunity as often as I would’ve liked, which is why I felt the need to take some time off.

“I was expecting a year-long break but ended up taking only around six or seven months. Thankfully, that seemed to be enough. It felt like I had enough time to rediscover my passion for racing,” he elaborated.

Ricciardo emphasized his primary goal for Sunday’s race is to familiarize himself with the car and gather data for the team. “I need to be both competitive and prudent in the race, logging the laps, and gathering data for the team,” he said.

He also recognized there is much more for him to learn about tyre management and how the car handles with fuel. “As the tyres wear out, I anticipate that I’ll uncover more about the car’s limitations and strengths. While there will be laps where my performance may not be stellar, I expect to improve as I gain more experience,” he added.

Ricciardo admitted that the demanding weather and intricate track in his comeback race could prove physically strenuous. “The race’s physically demanding nature, combined with the warm weather, is going to be challenging,” he said. “Even for those in prime race fitness, Budapest is among the toughest circuits, along with Singapore. But I’m looking forward to it.”

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 comeback

More about Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 comeback

• Ricciardo’s F1 Career
• AlphaTauri’s Team Profile
• Overview of F1 2023 Season
• F1 Qualifying Procedures
• F1’s Budapest Circuit