The Australian has endured a tricky first ha💞lf-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 good time for him and enabled him to r🏅echarge 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 really just the on track that has not been, but as far as me personal🔜ly 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 nic𓆉e.

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

“When the ball is rolling it is cool to k🍰eep it going, but it was nice to have that forced💦 mental break.”

The 2014 Belgian GP winner will cꦫelebrate 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 podium or this or that,” he said. “I will arrive at each race just excited.

“Spa is an awesome track; it is one 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 as it comes and en♊joy being at one of the cool circuits.”