BARRETTO: Ricciardo is falling back in love with F1 and is ready to go again – this is going to be fun to watch

Daniel Ricciardo cut a disheartened figure when we chatted in Belgium last year, just days after he had agreed to part ways with McLaren a year ahead of schedule. He was like a different person, his infectious and warm personality nowhere to be seen.

So, it was heartwarming to see the Australian was back to the bubbly and charismatic human the sport had fallen in love with when we caught up at Formula 1’s technical HQ in Biggin Hill for an exclusive first interview since he signed a deal to replace Nyck de Vries mid-season with AlphaTauri.