Current Daniel Ricciardo

I noticed young Daniel didn't have his own thread so thought I'd give him on as sure he'll be around for a good few years.

Born in 1989 (that makes him 22 before you do the maths) this aussie started karting at the age of 9 and in 2005 entered the Western Australian Formula Ford Championship as a privateer driving a car that was 15 years old at the time and managed to finish 8th. He won a scholarship to compete in Formula BMW Asia the following year. As we all know he eventually became involved in the Red Bull young driver programme after winning the British Formula 3 championship in 2009.

Became Red Bull's test driver and has now stepped up to drive for HRT. Has been really hyped as the next big thing by the Red Bull team and the press. Eddie Jordan described him as a future world champion before he'd even done his first Grand Prix. The truth is though he has not set the world alight at HRT. How can one set the world alight at HRT I hear you ask to which I say - good point! Although he has beaten Liuzzi twice already in the races I believe he needs to get on top of him in quali too. Also he's being beaten by quite a way in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series by both Robert Wickens and Jean-Eric Vergne.

So Ricciardo - future number 1 or going going gone?

 

[PeeJay]

Red Bull cheated but Riccardo did his job well. Qualifying was excellent, and no mistakes during the race. It will be interesting to see what he can show over the next few races.

 

[ZakspeedYakspeed]

Top job my son ... nothing can detract from you race ... t'was the gnomes of Milton Keynes ....

 

[RasputinLives]

Am I the only one still not convinced? I don't think he actually came under any pressure during the race.

 

[ZakspeedYakspeed]

One race does not maketh the driver ... but you have to start somewhere ... and he did not put one foot wrong all weekend ... at his home GP to boot ...

 

[ExtremeNinja]

RasputinLives

He spent a lot of the race with Magnussen breathing down his neck and held him off. The pressure from behind was evident.

 

[RasputinLives]

ExtremeNinja

KMag turned down the wick for fuel saving as soon as he caught him and only flipped it back up again with about a lap and a half to go.

Plus a rookie, however quick he is, in his first race thinking he better not stuff up this podium position is not the sort of pressure I'm talking about.

 

[Fenderman]

Poor Daniel. I wonder if he has the old blues classic "Born Under a Bad Sign" ringing in his head: "... if I didn't have bad luck, I'd have no luck at all ..."

One could ask "just what has the guy got to do?" but really it's Red Bull that needs make the luck and, although I'm not a fan, I really hope they get it together.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Oh Danny Boy I think I've found you a girlfriend...

 

[teabagyokel]

No, smile like that it has to be his sister.

 

[Mephistopheles]

It may be the worst picture ever taken of her ever but that's Katie Holmes I'll have you know....

 

[teabagyokel]

Mephistopheles - Ah, so it's a consequence of L. Ron?

 

[Greenlantern101]

Dan has found a way to celebrate despite there being no alchohol.

 

[KekeTheKing]

They mentioned this on the NBC sports broadcast, and I finally looked up the quote, but here was Dr. Marko giving Ricciardo a compliment while swiping Webber with his backhand.

"Finally we have an Australian who starts (races) well and can put Sebastian under pressure with fair methods," Red Bull's always-outspoken director is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

At this point you'd have to agree.

 

[Jos the Boss]

Fair methods?!

 

[teabagyokel]

As opposed to "Multi 21, Seb, Multi 21"!

 

[FB]

Yeah, Mark used to piss in Seb's fuel tank.

 

[Galahad]

He's a classy character, that Dr. Marko.

 

[ZakspeedYakspeed]

Looks like Helmut will never get over the fact that MW used to negotiate with Dietrich and not have to deal through him ... as MW would tell you ... why deal with the monkey when you can talk to the organ grinder ...

 

[Mephistopheles]

Danny Boy learning to breakdance to a piano apparently, now if
only Maldonado could learn where the brake pedal is then that
really would impress me..

 

[Boisko2]

Finally on the podium. It was coming since Australia. Fortunately without fuel controversy this time