Daniel Ricciardo feels his performance at the Chinese Grand Prix was “one of the best races” of his life, after finishing in fourth place.
The Australian started from second in the grid and took the lead into Turn 1, before a puncture on lap three dropped him down the field and meant he had to make an unscheduled trip to the pits.
The safety car also caused him to fall further behind, but a feisty recovery saw him rise all the way up to fourth by the chequered flag.
"I think there were some incidents on the first lap and I remember on my second lap there was a little bit of debris here and there," he said.
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-120x86.webp)
"But it didn’t seem like there was one big bit which I caught so it was still unexpected when I was coming through Turn 11 and 12 and was feeling the rear start to slide so I just came on the radio straight away to let them know the tyres were gone.
"The puncture became noticeable when I got on the straight as I could feel the car start to wobble and then my tyre went. Then the safety car put us even further back so that was like a double whammy, which felt like getting punched in the stomach by a heavy weight.
"But in the end the second part of the race I drove probably one of the best races of my life. The package is really promising for sure.
"I felt like I would have sprayed champagne today and part of me is smiling because I am optimistic that will happen this year so that’s a really good feeling and I’ll keep fighting."
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-350x250.webp)
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