The Australian, who signed for Red Bull for this season on a one-year deal in a third driver role, was parachuted in to replace sacked AlphaTauri racer Nyck de Vries after 10 races.
He was trailed by a Netflix ‘Drive To Survive’ camera crew for the Thursday media day in Budapest and his sessions with journalists in Red Bull hospitality were rammed.
His roundtable interview session in Spa also proved popular. This prompted Ricciardo to joke that he thought the media might have forgotten about him a round later and that the attention he garnered in Hungary made him feel as though he had won the world championship.
He said: “I thought today would be a lot smaller [media attendance]. I thought you sort of forgot about me already.
When asked to reflect on his Hungary return - with the eight-time grand prix winner qualifying and finishing 13th after being caught up in the Turn 1 melee that eliminated both Alpines - Ricciardo replied: “I definitely made a point to enjoy it all.
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“Even the media day, there was a lot. I joked, it's like I just won a world championship.
“There was so much interest, but it was something that you just have to soak it all up and enjoy it.
“I think the weekend as a whole went well. I was kind of knackered on Monday; I was very low key and just reflected on it.”
Source: Autosport