Brendan Lines July 10, 2020 02:30pm

After a DNF dampened Daniel Ricciardo’s return to Formula 1 at the Austrian Grand Prix last week, the Australian is back at the Red Bull Ring albeit for the Styrian Grand Prix this weekend, with fresh motivation from signs Renault’s pace will head the mid field.

The anomaly of 2020 continues as for the first time Formula 1 visits the same venue in successive race weekends.

It’s nothing new for Formula 1 to return to a country for multiple races as the European Grand Prix appeared in existing host Grand Prix countries; Britain, Spain Azerbaijan and Germany, strangely Germany’s second race was called the Luxembourg Grand Prix — however these races have been raced on an entirely different circuits.

Ricciardo leading Alpha Tauri, Haas and Alfa Romeo cars at the Austrian GP – Image: Renaultsport.com

Ricciardo says a second bite at the Red Bull Ring might have it’s advantages for Renault from the outset of tonight’s FP1 session.

“I think Friday practice could look different as we already know the tyres and all the little details about the circuit,” he said.

Renault has chosen to favour the soft tyres this weekend allocating eight sets to Ricciardo, along with three sets of the medium C4 and two of the hard C2.

“We’ll look to refine some key areas to make sure we’re well prepared for both qualifying and race. I’m excited to get going again as we know anything can happen in Formula 1 and we want to be in a position to capitalise on any opportunity.”

Renault’s improvements were noticeable last week coming out of the lockdown period, as Ricciardo was as high as fifth fastest in FP2, Ricciardo is certain his car does have qualifying pace.

“I think there were a lot of positives from the weekend, our qualifying pace was up there, and I know with a clean lap we could have been further up the grid. That’s the goal for this weekend,” he said.

“Qualifying, we were a bit unlucky with the yellow, otherwise I think we were a top seven, safe to say top eight car. I think we’re there, at least where we want to be. We’re certainly in that fight.”

While Ricciardo remained in Austria, Renault revealed the big news of the week signing two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso as Ricciardo’s replacement in 2021.

Alonso has signalled he will attend some races this year.

Speaking to The Race, Ricciardo dismissed any suggestions he might ‘help out’ the spaniard’s return lending his seat to Alonso for any FP1 sessions in 2020.

“No, because I heard the words ‘help Fernando’. He doesn’t need any help, Ricciardo said.

“It didn’t look like he slowed down at all with age. His last season in F1 [with McLaren in 2018] was a pretty strong one from everything I heard and saw.

“Obviously the results weren’t always there but as far as getting the most out of the car, I think that was pretty evident that he was so I don’t think he needs help.”

Ricciardo fans will also need to watch the Aussie’s future team McLaren, who continue their resurgence as Lando Norris scored a podium finish and posted McLaren’s best qualifying result (4th) in six years at last weeks season re-start.

FP1 for the Styrian Grand Prix starts 06:30pm local time