Daniel Ricciardo: What he expects from his comeback in Hungary

(Motorsport-Complete.com) – For Daniel Ricciardo, the primary System 1 race in additional than half a 12 months is arising subsequent weekend. The Australian replaced at AlphaTauri Nyck de Vries and is coming again to the group he drove for in 2012 and 2013. Already final week he visited the manufacturing unit in Faenza and noticed some acquainted faces there.

“I felt proper at house,” he says, however has to confess that the manufacturing unit has “modified loads” since his time. However, the transition from Crimson Bull to the junior group went easily for him. “As all the time within the Crimson Bull household, it’s a must to be ready for a name and when it got here I jumped on the likelihood,” stated the Australian.

However now it is about proving himself once more in sport. The 2 years at McLaren have tarnished his popularity – as has his self-confidence. And the truth that he was out for six months should not have helped, even when he says that it felt very regular once more for Crimson Bull on the tire check in Silverstone.

At AlphaTauri, nevertheless, he’s now becoming a member of the group that’s at present final within the Constructors’ Championship is. The group has solely scored two factors, so Ricciardo faces fairly a problem. “The AlphaTauri automobile is simply the way in which it’s,” he says. “I’ll drive it and work with it.”

“I do not wish to have too many preconceived notions about it. I believe if the automobile feels balanced then I can work with it,” stated Ricciardo. “It is going to be a problem to only get in and get going, however I am wanting ahead to it.”

Ricciardo needs to assist with expertise

He would additionally prefer to contribute his expertise from 232 Grand Prix begins and assist to additional develop the AT04. On the first race in Budapest, nevertheless, he needs to have enjoyable and drive “extra with the best foot than the left”.

“The important thing to this monitor is to get right into a rhythm – it’s a must to get so many corners collectively – and when the automobile is balanced you may actually have enjoyable,” he says.

In the meantime, teammate Yuki Tsunoda is already wanting ahead to working with Ricciardo: “I am unable to say that I do know him very nicely, however we had a enjoyable day of capturing collectively in Miami at first of the 12 months,” says the Japanese.

“I believe I’ll profit from having an excellent and skilled driver as a team-mate. I am positive I can study loads from him and I additionally count on that he can train the group and assist the event of the automobile.”

Is Hungary higher for the AlphaTauri?

On the similar time, he emphasizes that he additionally had fun with de Vries: “I discovered from him and we additionally had fun off the monitor,” he says. “He had a whole lot of expertise in different classes and gave good suggestions to the group due to his data. He had the tempo and as a good friend I loved spending time with him.”

However now he is wanting forward, the place he is hoping for his group’s subsequent leap with new upgrades. “Budapest has utterly totally different monitor traits than the final two races and the gradual corners ought to go well with our automobile higher than the quick ones,” stated Tsunoda. “I just like the monitor, it is technically demanding and a whole lot of enjoyable.”

Regardless of the standings within the World Championship, he’s optimistic and, as he says, sees each race as a brand new alternative. “As a group we’re very motivated to go ahead and develop the automobile as a lot as potential. In my head I’ve utterly processed the previous couple of races, particularly Silverstone, and I am in a constructive temper.”