After finishing fourth during the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, Daniel Ricciardo was delighted to show some good pace, and was happy not to be too far off the pace of the Mercedes and Ferrari teams.
The Red Bull Racing driver ran as high as second during the early stages at Albert Park, and was hopeful of making the podium by gambling on running the Soft Pirelli tyre until the chequered flag, but ultimately he was forced to pit again.
He was happy to catch and pass the Williams of Felipe Massa to reclaim fourth in the closing stages, and set the fastest lap of the race in the process on the Supersoft tyre.
“Today was fun for me, it was so good to be back racing,” revealed Ricciardo. “I came on the radio more than once expressing my joy to just being out there competing; that joy was emphasized by having a good car underneath me.
“At the start we were able to pick cars off. We had good pace with high fuel on the Option and it was fun to be able to pass cars, I was enjoying that as always. I was sitting in a podium spot towards the end and I was hoping the tyres would last but I knew they weren’t going to hold and I would have to pit again.
“But fourth is still a good result and I’m happy we’re not that far off Mercedes and Ferrari.”
