Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian driver, is making his much-anticipated return to Formula 1 with AlphaTauri at the Hungaroring this weekend. He steps in as a replacement for Nyck de Vries.
Despite a rain-interrupted first practice session where several drivers, including Ricciardo, couldn’t complete a flying lap, he found himself in the 14th spot during the afternoon’s FP2, just slightly behind his team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.
Reflecting on his first day back in an F1 car, Ricciardo shared that he sees room for improvement, but he didn’t observe any significant concerns with the AT04 car during his initial experience.
“At this stage, I’m not too focused on my current position,” Ricciardo said. “Today was mostly about gauging my comfort with the car, which felt surprisingly familiar.”
Despite the media attention on his return, Ricciardo expressed that as soon as he donned his helmet and settled into the car, it felt as if he had never really left the sport.
With some adjustments to his car’s set-up and his own efforts to adapt to the F1 machinery again, Ricciardo believes he could achieve a strong performance in the upcoming qualifying rounds.
Daniel Ricciardo, Scuderia AlphaTauri
Photo by: Michael Potts / F1 Flow Images
“I still have more to give, and there are aspects of the car’s performance that we can definitely enhance,” he said.
“At the moment, I’m quite hopeful. Yuki also seemed to have a successful day. If we can align all these elements, I think we might fare well tomorrow.”
Additionally, Ricciardo highlighted one area he could improve — becoming more adept at utilising new tyres. During the FP2 session, he had a run on the soft and medium compounds, which will be essential in the qualifying rounds.
“The first run on medium tyres went fairly well,” Ricciardo stated. “We’re gradually improving. With the soft tyres, I’m still figuring out how to piece together a lap. However, I felt at ease in the car today. I have aspects to work on, but nothing that concerns me too much. As for the car, we’ll continue to work on enhancing its performance.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 return
Who is making a comeback in Formula 1?
Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo is making a comeback in Formula 1, returning to the sport with team AlphaTauri.
How did Daniel Ricciardo perform in his first practice sessions upon his return?
Ricciardo did not complete a flying lap in the rain-interrupted first practice session. However, he finished 14th in the second practice session (FP2), slightly behind his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda.
How does Ricciardo feel about his return to Formula 1?
Ricciardo expressed comfort and familiarity upon his return, stating that it felt as if he had never really left. He also mentioned optimism for improvement and his upcoming performance in the qualifying rounds.
What are Ricciardo’s identified areas for improvement?
Ricciardo mentioned the need to adjust his car’s setup and adapt to the F1 machinery again. He also acknowledged the need to become more adept at using new tyres, specifically the soft and medium compounds.
Who is Ricciardo replacing in the AlphaTauri team?
Ricciardo is stepping in as a replacement for Nyck de Vries.
More about Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 return
- Daniel Ricciardo’s career in F1
- AlphaTauri Team
- News and updates about Formula 1
- Nyck de Vries’s career
5 comments
is it just me or does it feel like Ricciardo never really left F1? I mean, he’s got that same old charm & style…
Well, I sure hope Dan can pull it off in the real race. Practice is one thing, but the race… that’s another story.
so de Vries is out and Ricciardo’s in huh, hope this move works out for AlphaTauri… they could use a boost.
Didn’t expect Daniel to fit in so quickly, glad to see him back on the tracks! Go Ricciardo!
new tyres, old tyres, soft, medium – doesn’t matter. It’s all about the driver and Daniel’s a pro. No doubts he’ll do great.