Daniel Ricciardo said he is feeling confident ahead of qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix after being able to make set-up changes to his AlphaTauri following the previous race.
He returned to Formula 1 in Austin last week after spending two months out due to injury. AlphaTauri introduced several upgrades to their car during that time, and after a single practice session at the Circuit of the Americas, Ricciardo was unable to make further setup changes due to the sprint race format.Speaking after the first two practice sessions at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Ricciardo said he was feeling the benefit of being able to get the AT04 more to his liking.
“Coming from Austin we already started with a different set-up,” he said. “I think there was things that, if it wasn’t a sprint weekend, we would have tried on the car, so we were able to try that.
“From the get-go I was certainly comfortable and then we just chipped away at it, some set-up things that we ultimately couldn’t try because of parc ferme last week. So that’s positive.”
His first grand prix back in Austin last week was compromised after he picked up damage to his brake ducts. Ricciardo said he was eager to get back in the car as soon as possible.
“I was just ready to go. I was ready to go Sunday night, but even yesterday when we were at the track, it’s good to drive today I’m very hungry and motivated and it feels good.”
Ricciardo said he is “definitely confident” after ending Friday practice sixth on the timesheet, just three-tenths of a second off pace-setter Max Verstappen.
“I can’t stand here and predict where we’ll be tomorrow because who knows in quali and what other teams might do with fuel or engines. But I know what I felt in the car today was good and I believe that is a top 10 car tomorrow. A top-six car would be nice.
“We’ll try to keep that going but I’m not [just] smiling because I’m looking ahead, it was a good day. It was a good day and it gives gives me confidence for tomorrow.”
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