(Motorsports news) McLaren paid Ricciardo last season to leave a year before his contract expired to make room for Formula 2 winner Oscar Piastri after the two of them struggled to function as a team with Lando Norris. In order to get away from the spotlight, Ricciardo joined Red Bull as a third driver for a 12-month period with the intention of waiting for a 2024 race slot rather than taking a less-competitive one.

But after just 10 races, AlphaTauri fired Nyck de Vries, thus Ricciardo made his comeback in the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend. After surviving an Alfa Romeo driver’s first-corner collision and diffuser damage, he pitted for fresh air and fought his way back to 13th place.

After a mid-flight conversation with Alonso, who left McLaren at the end of 2018 and went on to win two Le Mans 24 Hour races before returning to Formula One in 2021 with Alpine, Ricciardo felt revitalized upon his return, but he had come to expect this. Even though it wasn’t the year I had anticipated, Ricciardo said: “I definitely just kind of reset myself and I feel motivated again.

Actually, I recall a discussion I had with Fernando a few years ago. I had not considered taking a break. “But we were simply chatting, I believe on a flight, and he said the break was one of the best things he had ever done for himself. “That kind of made me wonder if I shouldn’t be too afraid of it if I ever feel the need for it. Then I reflect that observing his year gave me some confidence as well.

After an eight-month absence from competitive racing, Ricciardo finished the 70-lap race with “one of the biggest smiles” on his face. He had shocked himself with his physical condition. After an eight-month absence from competitive racing, Ricciardo finished the 70-lap race with “one of the biggest smiles” on his face. He had shocked himself with his physical condition.

Furthermore, Ricciardo talked about the accomplishments of his previous team McLaren, which followed up its excellent display at Silverstone with Norris’ second-place finish to Max Verstappen in Budapest. To end up in fifth place, youngster Piastri persevered despite being caught off guard by the undercut, losing track position to Norris, and sustaining floor damage.

Ricciardo felt that this performance proved that the MCL60 now “speaks Lando’s language” after two years of trying to end the “stalemate” that ultimately cost him his spot. “I felt obviously for whatever reasons, the McLaren was normally not speaking my language,” Ricciardo remarked. It undoubtedly speaks Lando’s tongue. He is very skilled at making the most of that device.

“I felt that there was certainly a deadlock, especially last year. It was quite challenging to escape from that. So that’s why taking some time off and then joining a new team and atmosphere has probably been the greatest thing for me.

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