Daniel Ricciardo, AlphaTauri AT04
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Formula 1 Analysis

The times that show how good Ricciardo's F1 return really was

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OPINION: Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 return garnered plenty of attention at last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. He didn’t come home with anything to show for it, but there’s enough evidence to say this was a really impressive first chapter of his comeback. Here’s why.

It was nearly the most underwhelming ending to a story that had captivated the Formula 1 news cycle for nearly two weeks. Daniel Ricciardo back racing at the top level of single-seaters, replacing the ousted Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri.

Having launched well enough at the start of the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, he’d got around the slow-starting Zhou Guanyu and was racing along with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon. Approaching the braking zone for Turn 1, Ocon swung ahead as they prepared to take the right-hander all together – a pack of eager puppies romping carefree and seemingly, charmingly unaware of the danger arriving quickly as left foots were sharply pressed.

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