Ricciardo: 'I feel like I got my fix'

The man with the biggest smile in Formula 1 can once again be found in a car on the grid from this weekend. Ahead of the Hungarian GP weekend, brand-new AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo spoke to the press at the FIA press event.

It has not even been that long since the Australian. He only had to miss 10 races before he was allowed to return. So Ricciardo says, first of all, that it doesn't feel very strange to be back. He was not away for long and also his work at Red Bull Racing naturally kept him involved in the sport.

Along the sidelines, Ricciardo has come all the way back into the Red Bull family. He has also been reunited with Dr Helmut Marko. Ricciardo: "Yes, it's been good. I've enjoyed this year in general, just going to the races. As I said, being back in the Red Bull family, I think it's been a lot of fun. And it also personally gave me some time away, which I felt was definitely needed. And I feel like I probably expected the year off. Obviously, I haven't got the whole year, but I've actually felt like I've got enough time that fuelled me, energised me, and I'm definitely ready to go again."

So what has Ricciardo been doing with his time off over the past six months? "Well, it's just like little luxuries, like having a bit more time to just not be on a plane every few days. But also it's funny how used to that kind of cadence you get. So as much as it was nice to maybe spend a bit more time at home or do some things with friends, I went to a buddy's bachelor party, which I don't think I've ever done, so that was cool. It was in a little place called Vegas as well. I'll show you [the pictures] later."

The Australian concluded, "It's just more having a little bit more free time. But that being said, I feel like I got my fix, and we're back, and I'm happy to be back."