Daniel Ricciardo has paid tribute to AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost ahead of his final race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend while reflecting on his “second chance” in the sport.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday’s race, Ricciardo was asked how much both the team and Formula 1 in general will miss Tost, who is stepping down after 18 years as a team principal.
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“I’d say tremendously,” the Australian replied, going on to reveal a touching anecdote which spoke to how Tost helped Ricciardo in the early stages of his career.
“I think for the team, he’s been everything, obviously starting off in the Toro Rosso days, that’s where I started my first full season in F1.
“I remember quite vividly the first meeting I had in his office and I kind of bounced in with a smile. I think he looked at me like… [he] tried to prepare me for what’s ahead.
“You know, it’s a serious sport and it’s a tough old world. So I think he was very honest with me as well, but it made me a little bit the same as with Helmut, it kind of made me mature a little quicker and ultimately grow up.
“… A lot of good memories and actually really nice for me personally to come back to the team and be here for his farewell.”
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For Ricciardo, Sunday’s race is also a chance to do some reflecting of his own on how the year has progressed after making an unexpected mid-season return to the grid.
Ricciardo had initially said he “needed” a break from the sport following his departure from McLaren and was anticipating a comeback in 2024.
“I think when I look back on this year, it’s a year I never would have expected in so many ways,” said Ricciardo.
“I didn’t expect to be racing at all this year, let alone kind of going through everything else. So it’s something that I’m definitely happy [about]. The place I am and what I feel, let’s say inside my heart ultimately, I’m really in a happy place and I’m happy being here racing again… just fully hungry and motivated.
“It’s probably the first off-season that I would not really want an off-season. I want to keep racing and keep a bit of the flow going. But also the thought of having a little bit of a break and getting myself prepared for next year that excites me as well.”
Ricciardo went on to add that his time away from the sport helped reinforce just how much he loves the sport, telling reporters he feels like he has been given a “second chance”.
“It should be the coolest thing that we do, right?” Ricciardo said.
“But when you’ve done it your whole life and obviously… when you’re winning it’s kind of easy but when you’re not you go through some other challenging moments where you can become a little bit frustrated with it.
“And then obviously on a competitive side your confidence takes a hit. So, then you’re kind of asking yourself more questions. I think that also makes you question the love for it, then maybe you’re not as hungry.
“… I think having the time off was, it gave me the answer of how much I do love it, ultimately. How much it means to me.
“And I think that’s also where, coming into now, I feel like I got a second chance, a second wind, where it’s like, ‘OK, I want to make sure this is my one and only priority, I’m going to put all my energy into this’.
“Because I just don’t want to walk away one day and be like, ‘Could have done more?’ or, ‘That career slipped a little bit out of my fingers’. I’d hate to feel that.
“[It] gave me a new perspective, which is really cool. I’d say I’d recommend it to everyone. I mean, obviously everyone’s on their own kind of path but I can’t believe how much I’ve enjoyed the second half the season. It’s pretty crazy what six months can do.”
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