Daniel Ricciardo believes that he previously underestimated the depth of his knowledge and influence in Formula 1, and his ability to “change how a garage feels”.
After a disappointing 2022 season that saw him lose his McLaren seat, Ricciardo sought a fresh start, rejoining his former team Red Bull as their third driver.
Following a six-month hiatus, Ricciardo made his Formula 1 return with AlphaTauri, where he replaced the underperforming Nyck de Vries.
As Red Bull Racing’s sister outfit transitioned under its fresh management and new RB identity from a feeder team for RBR to an outfit that wants its own success, Ricciardo was retained alongside young gun Yuki Tsunoda.
And since last year, the Aussie has a newfound appreciation of his role within his team.
“I’ve been in F1 a long time, driven a lot of cars, seen a lot of things. My knowledge… I probably underestimated that,” said Ricciardo in an interview with The Age.
“The team was struggling a bit at the time, and I could see that my experience was helping.
“The way the team responded to what I had to say, the questions they asked… I grew to really enjoy that aspect of it.”
Ricciardo’s presence and input undeniably boosted AlpahTauri. His insightful feedback and unique driver perspective filled a gap that the Faenza-based squad hadn't recognized.
He also energized the team’s atmosphere, which provided a crucial lift for a squad regularly struggling in the lower tier of F1’s midfield.
“You realise with age that you have the power to change how a garage feels, how a team responds,” explained the 34-year-old.
“There’s hundreds of people that work with these teams, but you’re one of the two people who the world watches to see how the team performs.
“We don’t just drive the car, we have the ability to alter the atmosphere in the room and that’s something I’m definitely more aware of.”
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While a multitude of individuals contribute to a team's triumphs, it's the driver's performance that often serves as the focal point for fans and media alike.
Embracing his newfound understanding, Ricciardo has come to appreciate the responsibility that comes with his veteran status, recognizing it as an opportunity to positively influence the team environment.
“From that mid-point of 2022 when I basically didn’t have a job and was unsure what I was going to do, I was almost wishing the races away, wanting the season to be done with,” he admitted
“Coming back last year, I found that I wasn’t thinking about anything else because I was truly happy doing what I was doing.
“I was in love with the sport again, with driving and competing. In 2022, I struggled with that and just wanted it to be over.
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“It’s had a long-lasting impact. I got my energy and excitement back by pushing a few things to the side, cutting out a lot of clutter,” he added.
“I wanted to be able to fall back in love with training again, but to train and to train well you need to get some time back in your life to do that properly.
“You can’t do a million other things because you have no window to train, and then maybe you’re not as strong or as healthy or as fresh as you should be, and it spirals.
“I want to get that feeling back again, to bring out the old me. Racing and training are my priorities right now, and all of the other stuff is secondary.”
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