The Australian has 🐬endured a tricky first half-season at McLaren amid his struggles to adapt to the team’s MCL35M car and sits ninth in the championship, six places and 63 points behind teammate Lando Norris.

Ricciardo feels the enforced summer shutdown came at a goꦑod time for him and enabled him to recharge and refocus heading into the season’s resumption at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend.

“It has not been all roses,” Ricciardo admitted. “But it is re♒ally just the on track that has not been, but as far as me personally in the team environment it has been really, really good.

“But it is just the results that have not been ♈to what I would like, so to switch off and escape and completely remove myself from the sport for two weeks was nice.

“When you step away you get a chance to reflect on the good, the bad, and just reset and come into the second half of the year with renewed energy and foc📖us. I always enjoy those breaks.

“When the ball is rolling it is cool to keep it going, but it was nice to have that forced menta♏l break.”

The 2014 Belgian GP winner will celebrate his 200th grand prix start this weekend at 🐷Spa-Francorchamps, though he is keeping an open mind about his chances at a circuit he holds a good record at.

“I am not looking as far ahead as what result we will get, are we going to get a podi🌞um or this oꩲr that,” he said. “I will arrive at each race just excited.

“Spa is an awesome track; it is 𝔍one of the few tracks that is awesome on a Saturday and a Sunday. It is a real racers track, you can overtake. If you have a good car you can really make a race of it.

“Just excited and hopefully the end result is a good one, but I will just take each day 𒊎as it comes and enjoy being at one of the cool circuits.”