Daniel Ricciardo unfazed by missed points at Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix

Australian Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo remains optimistic despite missing out on scoring points for AlphaTauri at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The seasoned driver struggled to keep up with his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who made an impressive run through the field, securing a top-ten position for most of the race.

Reflecting on his performance and finishing 16th overall, Ricciardo candidly discussed his challenges with the media, stating, "In terms of pace, I think even in clear air, I was struggling a lot. I feel like I was probably just not producing enough grip, and then the car was sliding, and the tyres overheating really quickly."

However, the setback has not dampened Ricciardo's spirits. He remains unfazed and looks forward to bouncing back after the summer break. "I don't want to be too discouraged; it was our only dry session all weekend, so it could be something as simple as set up, and we went the wrong way," he explained. "But I just wish I could have been able to attack a little more."

The Belgian Grand Prix marked only Ricciardo's second race with AlphaTauri, having been brought in to replace Nyck de Vries after the British Grand Prix. Previously, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believed that Ricciardo had the potential to score points during his return with the team in Hungary if not for an unfortunate first-lap incident with Zhou Guanyu.

Speaking about the challenges of the race, Ricciardo remarked, "It's just tough in a race when you're not really making progress, and that's where you try a few things [but sometimes] it doesn't work, or you lock up, or you have a moment."

Despite these difficulties, he maintains a positive perspective, taking into account the limited time he had to get accustomed to the car, saying, "Nine days ago, I hadn't driven this car, so when I put everything into perspective, I think we're okay."

As the Formula 1 season takes a summer break, Ricciardo looks forward to the Dutch Grand Prix on 28 August at Circuit Zandvoort, aiming to deliver a strong comeback performance.