McLaren made the decision to release Ricciardo from his contract early last season, after two years of not meeting expectations while racing alongside Lando Norris. This move was made in order to create an opportunity for Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri.
Ricciardo made the decision to step back from the public eye and joined Red Bull as a third driver on a one-year contract. Instead of settling for a less competitive position, he chose to patiently wait for a race seat in 2024.
However, AlphaTauri dismissed Nyck de Vries after just 10 races, leading to Ricciardo’s comeback at the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend.
After being struck by Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu at the first corner and suffering damage to the diffuser, he managed to recover by making a pit stop for better conditions and fought his way back up to 13th position.
Ricciardo experienced a renewed sense of energy upon his comeback, which was not surprising considering the reassuring conversation he had with Alonso during their flight. Alonso, who departed from McLaren in 2018, went on to win the Le Mans 24 Hours twice before making a return to F1 in 2021 with Alpine.
Ricciardo clarified: “Although it wasn’t the year I anticipated, I have completely refreshed myself and now I feel revitalized.”
I recall having a discussion with Fernando around two years ago. At that time, I did not consider the idea of taking a break.
“We were simply engaged in conversation, possibly during a flight, when he expressed that taking a break was one of the most beneficial decisions he had ever made.”
I started contemplating the idea that if I ever feel the need for it, I shouldn’t be too afraid of it. However, considering the successful year he has had, it also boosted my confidence.
Ricciardo had “one of the biggest smiles”, having surprised himself with his physical condition after the 70-lap race following an eight-month spell on the sidelines.
Daniel Ricciardo, AlphaTauri AT04
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Ricciardo: McLaren has broken “stalemate” to speak Norris’ language
Ricciardo also discussed the improvement of his previous team, McLaren. They continued their impressive performance from Silverstone, with Norris securing a second-place finish in Budapest behind Max Verstappen.
Piastri, a newcomer, faced challenges when he fell victim to the undercut strategy, causing him to lose his position on the track to Norris. Additionally, he also had to deal with damage to the floor of his car. Despite these setbacks, he managed to secure fifth place.
Ricciardo believed that the MCL60 now understands Lando’s style of driving, which took two years to achieve due to the unresolved situation that ultimately led to him losing his position.
Ricciardo expressed that, for various reasons, it was evident that the McLaren did not understand him.
Lando is definitely familiar with it. He knows exactly how to maximize its potential.
“I had a strong sense of being stuck, particularly last year, in a state of stagnation. It was extremely difficult to break free from that situation.”
“That is the reason why taking time off and then being surrounded by a new team and environment has been incredibly beneficial for me.”
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