'Stoked to be back' Ricciardo feeling at home with AlphaTauri

©AlphaTauri

Daniel Ricciardo's return to F1 with AlphaTauri is a homecoming of sorts for the Aussie who was greeted by many familiar faces upon his arrival at Faenza last week.

Since, Ricciardo has become reacquainted with the team with which he enjoyed his first competitive drive in F1 back in 2012 when it was named Toro Rosso.

Memories of those early days and breakthrough moments likely flooded back for the Aussie, but the 34-year-old is now focused on creating a new chapter in his career, one that he hopes will carry him back to the upper tier of the grid.

"I’m stoked to be back," said Ricciardo in AlphaTauri's Hungarian Grand Prix preview. "As always with the Red Bull family, you have to be ready for a call and when it came I jumped at the opportunity.

"The transition to AlphaTauri has gone smoothly. Last week, I was back in Faenza, the factory has changed a lot since I last raced for the team a decade ago, but there were still plenty of familiar faces and I felt at home as we prepare for the upcoming race."

Read also:

Horner: Ricciardo 'pitching' for seat at Red Bull in 2025

Ricciardo suggested that he has no preconceptions about AlphaTauri's AT04 despite the car's poor level of performance this season.

"When I drove the Red Bull in the tyre test at Silverstone last week it all felt very normal," he added;

"The AlphaTauri car will be what it is. I’m going to drive it and work from there. I don’t want to have too many preconceived ideas about it.

"I think if it’s a car that feels balanced, that’s something I can work with. It’s going to be a challenge, to jump in and just hit the ground running, but I’m excited about it."

©AlphaTauri

Ricciardo aims to leverage his experience to help AlphaTauri develop its challenger. But in the short term, the eight-time Grand Prix winner only has one idea in mind: to have fun!

"I’m looking forward to also developing the car and using my experience, and ultimately, I think, for Budapest, just go out and have fun, try and use more right foot than left and have a good time," he said.

"The key to this track is getting into a rhythm – you put so many corners together – and if the car is balanced, you can really have some fun."

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.