Despite a disappointing retirement at the Chinese Grand Prix due to a collision with Aston Martin’s Stroll, Daniel Ricciardo emerged from Shanghai with a newfound optimism. Prior to the incident, Ricciardo had shown promising signs of progress, qualifying ahead of his teammate in both the sprint and the grand prix. The Australian’s improved performance was attributed in part to a chassis change ahead of the event, which provided him with increased comfort and confidence behind the wheel. While Ricciardo acknowledges the immediate frustration caused by the collision, he remains optimistic about the future, believing that the team can learn from this setback and build upon the positives of the weekend.