Daniel Ricciardo's action packed Hungarian Grand Prix put the Australian on his first podium since Austin last year, but there were more than just championship points to take away from his Magyar weekend.
Red Bull Racing's dismal season had undoubtedly blemished both Ricciardo and Kvyat's serenity as the pair desperately awaited an upturn in performance, especially on the part of engine partner Renault. But Hungary provided some much needed solace to the team and driver's troubles, with Ricciardo underlining the step forward which was accomplished by the team over the weekend.
"One of the most positive things about the weekend was the fact that from the first run on the track on Friday morning, the car felt so good, " said Ricciardo. "It was the first race in a long time where we really didn't need to touch the balance over the weekend. We didn't chase our tail and the car had more feeling about it, at least from my side. I felt like I could dictate a bit more balance and position the car more where I wanted to."
The end result for Ricciardo was a competitive drive come Sunday, an energetic attitude on the track along with some trademark moves which reminded everyone of the Australian's talent and gusto. Capitalizing on the team's good Hungarian performance won't be easy on the upcoming Spa and Monza power-circuits however, but Ricciardo believes a breakthrough has been made.
"Even compared to last year, I feel we really made some progress. Hungary is a short circuit which suited our car but we still made a step forward. We've made the upgrades we've brought to the car in the last two races work in the right way, so there's definitely a lot of positives to take away. It's nice to see a smile on all our faces and give something positive to the team coming into the break."
Click here for F1i's driver ratings following the Hungarian Grand Prix
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
