AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo draws inspiration from Fernando Alonso's advice
- Rob Fleming
- 25 July 2023
Daniel Ricciardo has revealed how a conversation with Fernando Alonso alleviated his concerns about taking a break from Formula 1 racing.
Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo recently disclosed how a conversation with Formula 1 star Fernando Alonso helped ease his concerns about taking a break from the racing circuit.
Having left McLaren after a disappointing two-year stint, losing his seat to Oscar Piastri for the 2023 season, Ricciardo replaced Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri for the remainder of the year before the Hungarian Grand Prix. Despite facing damage from a collision with Zhou Guanyu at the first turn, Ricciardo managed to qualify and finish in 13th position.
The eight-time Grand Prix champion expressed feeling "energised" after his return and attributed it to a talk with Alonso, who stepped away from F1 in 2018 due to disillusionment with the sport.
Alonso subsequently made a comeback in 2021 with Alpine after participating in events like the World Endurance Championship, the Indy 500, and the Dakar Rally during his hiatus.
"I really feel that just having this half a year off, even if it wasn't the full year I expected, certainly made me reset myself, and I feel energised again," said Ricciardo during a media interview.
Recalling his conversation with Alonso from two years ago, Ricciardo shared, "We were just having a chat, I think on a flight somewhere, and he said the break for him was one of the best things he ever did.
"That kind of got me thinking maybe if I ever feel I need it, not to be too scared of it, then seeing the year he's had, that also filled me with some confidence."
The AlphaTauri driver, who emerged victorious over his new teammate Yuki Tsunoda in the recent race, also described his emotions upon returning to the grid and how he managed to strike a balance before the start of the race.
"For sure there's nerves, there's excitement, there's lots of these things, but sometimes we probably forget to remind ourselves to take it in and just smile at the moment," he explained. "I was just trying to enjoy and of course, you still make sure you stay focused but just enjoy it."
As the Belgian Grand Prix approaches at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday, 30 July, fans will be eager to witness Ricciardo's newfound vigour on the track.
