This weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix will mark the highly anticipated comeback of Daniel Ricciardo to Formula 1. Ricciardo expressed his excitement about his F1 comeback, describing it as “cool” in a rare statement to fans before the Hungarian Grand Prix. With just a few days left until the race at the Hungaroring, the Australian driver is eagerly looking forward to the upcoming race weekend.
In a social media post, Ricciardo celebrated his return to racing and humorously acknowledged his time away from F1. The Australian driver’s excitement is evident from his recent social media posts, as he prepares for the upcoming race.
Daniel Ricciardo admits being “fallen out of love” with F1 last year
Last week, Ricciardo received a promotion to drive for AlphaTauri, taking Nyck de Vries’s spot. The decision to remove the Dutchman from the team came after he failed to make an impression on Red Bull bosses, as he didn’t manage to score any points in the last 10 races.
The decision to promote Ricciardo to AlphaTauri came shortly after he excelled in a Pirelli tire test, which took place a few days after the British Grand Prix. During the test, Ricciardo showcased impressive performance on all three tire compounds. His best lap time was so remarkable that it would have qualified him for the front row of the grid at Silverstone.
Following his promotion to Red Bull, Ricciardo’s last stint with the team was under its previous name, Toro Rosso, in 2013. After the recent announcement. Ricciardo openly acknowledged that he had lost his passion for Formula 1, expressing that he had “fallen out of love” with the sport before his departure last year. This period of disillusionment had a significant impact on his self-assurance and left him with diminished confidence.
Despite his previous struggles, Ricciardo has found renewed motivation and positivity after spending some time on the simulator and immersing himself in the “positive” atmosphere at Red Bull. These experiences have helped him regain a sense of familiarity and “feel like himself” once again. Attending races and being on the pit wall at Silverstone last week further ignited his passion for competition, and he now claims to be getting the “bug back” to compete at his best once more.
Red Bull’s abrupt switch of drivers from Nyck de Vries to Daniel Ricciardo could be seen as a “death sentence” to de Vries’ future in Formula 1
Ricciardo joins RB developmental team following Nyck de Vries’ “death sentence.” According to former F1 driver and current commentator Ralf Schumacher, it is “understandable” why the Red Bull team opted to fire the struggling rookie from its junior squad Alpha Tauri. Red Bull consultant, Dr Helmut Marko, who had the final say in the mid-season driver switch, stated: ” Daniel already knew before the test at Silverstone that if he could perform, he would have the cockpit.”
Mick Schumacher has been overlooked for a second time, facing disappointment in his pursuit of a racing opportunity in Formula 1.
“Mick would have been available,” said Ralf Schumacher, “but we’ve discussed this often enough. For whatever reasons, the decision is made against Mick.”
Mick Schumacher, currently serving as a Mercedes reserve, is eager for another chance to test with McLaren. He recently had a test run in the 2021 car at Portimao, and now hopes for further opportunities to showcase his skills with the team.
What do you think about Daniel’s return to the Formula 1 grid? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
