Daniel Ricciardo kept himself ready for the moment an opportunity to return to the grid presented itself.
What he didn’t expect was it to come as soon as it did.
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The Aussie was thrust back onto the grid in placed of axed rookie Nyck de Vries and will drive the AlphaTauri car for the remainder of the season.
The 34-year-old was completing a Pirelli tyre test around the Silverstone track when Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko dropped the hammer on de Vries.
Ricciardo spilt the beans on the moment his phone rang with Marko on the other end.
“I was like, ‘OK, let’s just hear what he has to say,’” Ricciardo said in an interview with F1’s Lawrence Barretto.
“I think that’s probably the best thing, because sometimes you’re trying to prepare yourself, ‘What if he asks for this?’ So [I thought], ‘Let’s just hear him out and see what happens’.
“I didn’t really need to think much about it. I think, as well, being back in this family, I feel so much … I would say there’s certainly some familiarity, but I also feel at home, I feel like I’m kind of just going through it all again.
“These were the calls I used to get and these were the moments they used to kind of throw in front of us. There was no question that I was going to say yes, it was just I guess the reality of, ‘OK, it’s going to happen pretty soon’.”
Ricciardo’s career sat at the crossroads after being let go by McLaren despite having a year to run on his contract.
Set on only joining a contending team, the options dried up and ultimately led to the Perth native star returning to Red Bull in a reserve driver role.
But the itch quickly came back after returning to Red Bull and when the opportunity arose he grabbed it with both hands.
“Once I’d done a few sim sessions and started feeling like myself again, it then just kind of brought me back to normal Daniel, where I was falling back in love and ready to go again,” he said.
Ricciardo will make his official return to Formula 1 when the Hungary Grand Prix gets underway next weekend.
Despite impressing while driving the RB19 around Silverstone, the AlphaTauri car has struggled to have an impact in 2023 and Ricciardo is keen on keeping expectations low ahead of his return.
“The car will be what it is,” he said.
“I’m going to drive it and work from there. I don’t want to get too much … preconceived ideas.
“I appreciate the car’s going to have its limitations. I’m sure they’re probably just lacking some overall downforce and things like this, but I think if it’s a car that feels balanced – it might not have as much grip as the Red Bull I drove a few days ago – that’s something I can work with.
“I’m looking forward to also developing it and using my experience, and ultimately, I think, for Budapest, just go out and have fun, try and use more right foot than left and have a good time!”
The first practice session for the Hungary Grand Prix will get underway on Friday July 21 at 9:30pm (AEST) before the race on Sunday at 11pm.