What can we expect from Daniel Ricciardo upon his return to Hungary?

Daniel Ricciardo had been ousted from McLaren at the end of 2022 due to rather poor performances. The Australian driver never managed to bounce back in the Woking team, which ultimately cost him his place in Formula 1. He took advantage of this situation to take a break, both to refocus himself and to try to come back stronger with another team. At the same time, he joined Red Bull as a third driver to keep one foot in Formula 1.

But in this discipline, everything can change from one minute to the next. It was enough for Nyck de Vries to have a poor start to the season for the Dutch driver to be replaced, and for Daniel Ricciardo to come in to replace him. A brief break for the Australian and a crucial end to the 2023 season that will determine his future in Formula 1. He is making his comeback this weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but what can we expect from him?

A car without rhythm

The weekend in Budapest doesn’t look easy for Daniel Ricciardo, especially due to the lack of performance from the car. Indeed, the AlphaTauri is probably the least performing car on the grid since the beginning of the season. The evidence is that the team is last in the constructors’ standings, with only two points.

It will therefore not be easy for Yuki Tsunoda, and even less so for Daniel Ricciardo who is returning after a break, to create a surprise on the Hungaroring track. As for the car, we cannot expect much.

Ricciardo on Tsunoda’s level?

The important thing for the Australian driver, perhaps even the most important thing of the weekend, will be to try to be ahead of his teammate. Yuki Tsunoda is the only one to have scored points for his team during this season and has also shown solid performances on numerous occasions, especially in such a difficult car to drive. Daniel Ricciardo will have to quickly match the level of the Japanese driver in order to make a name for himself again in Formula 1.

However, this could prove to be complicated. The Australian doesn’t know the car as well as Yuki Tsunoda, and most importantly, he will have to show his fierce determination to win and everything he’s got in order to hope to make a strong impression. It’s far from guaranteed. Qualifying is going to be a key point of the weekend because, as we know, overtaking on this track is not the easiest thing to do. A good position on the grid and a clean first lap can give you an advantage. For Daniel Ricciardo, he will have to do everything to exploit the car to its maximum potential and secure a good position on the grid.

Ricciardo not in the rhythm?

The risk for Daniel Ricciardo in Hungary is not being in the rhythm of his teammate and the others. Although he is a highly experienced and talented driver, we must not forget that his time at McLaren has seriously affected his confidence and driving. Even with a break of several months, he could fall back into his old habits and struggle at the back of the field. He needs time to understand the car before pushing it to its limits.

So there you have it, don’t expect too much from Daniel Ricciardo in Hungary. The Australian is returning to an uncompetitive team and will have to get back on track as quickly as possible to prove to his bosses that he still has what it takes. Hungary may not work in his favor, but he has half a season left to show the world that he can still drive for a renowned team.