Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Formula 1 reserve driver, feels like winning the world championship title. He joked about it after media attention regarding his comeback with AlphaTauri in the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Honeybadger signed a year deal with Red Bull as their third driver role. However, he got lucky when AlphaTauri sacked Nyck de Vries after 10 races.
Netflix ‘Drive To Survive’ crew caught him before the rest of media for the Thursday media day in Budapest.
Ricciardo remained popular among all drivers and stole the spotlight. He joked to media that he felt abandoned and now feel like a king.
He said: “I thought today would be a lot smaller [media attendance]. I thought you sort of forgot about me already.
However, he reflected on the Hungary experience. Ricciardo added: “I definitely made a point to enjoy it all.
“Even the media day, there was a lot. I joked, it’s like I just won a world championship.
“There was so much interest, but it was something that you just have to soak it all up and enjoy it.
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“I think the weekend as a whole went well. I was kind of knackered on Monday; I was very low key and just reflected on it.”
Ricciardo claims to come for the weekend rather than just points. He asked the media to define him with how he manages and maximizes the car.
He continued: “The main thing was, yes I was happy with my performance, but I was just happy about the way I was going racing again.
“The weekend is probably as chaotic it felt. I really enjoyed it. I felt like everything was under control and it was busy, but it wasn’t too much.”
Ricciardo had three year contract with McLaren bu he left after the two races. He added: “It was just a more enjoyable experience than I guess I’d probably found myself in more often in the last year or so. That was really important.
“I qualified 13th, finished 13th, but I felt a lot happier than that would show.
“A lot of the time we’re driven so much about the result and our happiness is dictated on if we get a podium or not. But to be happy with not even points, I think is the way I want to go racing now.
“Obviously, I’m still very results driven, but I felt like I’d done everything I needed to.
“I was still happy with everything I put into the weekend’s and also the I got from the team.”
