Ricciardo: Busy Spa weekend will 'fast-track' improvement

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Daniel Ricciardo says having back-to-back F1 races will "keep the ball rolling" for him and fast-track his learning, especially as this weekend's busy round of racing at Spa will also feature a Sprint event.

Ricciardo will tackle the Belgian Grand Prix a week after returning to the fray in Hungary, where the AlphaTauri driver produced a solid race which he finished a creditable 13th.

And the Aussie's efforts might have even carried him into the top ten had he not been a victim of the chaos that ensued at the first corner at the Hungaroring after he was hit from behind by Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu.

"I felt our pace wasn’t bad and there was maybe even a chance of points if I hadn’t had to start again from the back after being hit on the first lap," he said as he recalled his race.

"It was good the car wasn’t damaged, so I was able to do the 70 laps and I felt physically fine at the end of it.

"There were a lot of things to be happy about. I made a few little mistakes in the race, but by the last stint I was really consistent and I don’t think I could have asked for anything more from my first weekend back."

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Ricciardo believes that putting himself back in the saddle just days later on the Belgian Ardennes' daunting toboggan will only help him maintain his fresh momentum.

"I’m happy to have a back-to-back and go to Spa now," he said in AlphaTauri's Spa preview.

"I think it was a solid start and it will be good to jump straight back in the car after just a couple of days, as it will keep the ball rolling. It should fast-track my learning and my improvement.

"That’s the plan, to keep chipping away at it."

While hoping for another productive weekend, the 34-year-old is also "staying grounded" when it comes to his prospects.

"I think Spa is always a challenge, the circuit itself is one of the best and the weather is always a factor, but I will deal with it with confidence, after how things went in Hungary.

"I want to be optimistic about it, but also I have to stay grounded, as there are still a lot of things to learn.

"It’s a Sprint format, which means it will be a pretty busy time, with just one practice session and then straight into qualifying.

"I plan to log a lot more laps, have some fun, and try to get in the points on Sunday."

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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.