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?

 

[cider_and_toast]

Given that Albon had his fingers burnt by Red Bull before and the Williams seems to be in a sweet spot right now, I think he made the right call.

Hungary will tell though.

 

[F1Brits_90]

he not stupid enough to go back into that brutal world & i would also say, feel for liam lawson he must wonder what the point of being in the red bull academy if he is at best 3rd choice

 

[F1Brits_90]

ive liked jaques yesterday more than i expected & being brutally honest like him its hard to disagree with him about riccardio as since he left renault in 2021 he's been very poor & you have to wonder if he wasnt the nicest guy in F1. would he have comeback & would he be under pressure like nyck de vries

https://twitter.com/x/status/1799159974687293647

 

[Il_leone]

ive liked jaques yesterday more than i expected & being brutally honest like him its hard to disagree with him about riccardio as since he left renault in 2021 he's been very poor & you have to wonder if he wasnt the nicest guy in F1. would he have comeback & would he be under pressure like nyck de vries

https://twitter.com/x/status/1799159974687293647

I too thought the same despite JV knowing to speak his mind and talk too much a bit . However you have to agree its harsh but honest , Red Bull said Mclaren ruined him and they were getting the old Ricciardo back for 2025 . That was plan A and now they have gone with the worst option by keeping Perez because Ricciardo looks more likely he should retire.

Therefore it makes it hard to justify their need for VCARB even further and also leaves a headache for Marko to deal with because Lawson has to replace Ricciardo otherwise he goes . Tsunoda despite no chance of promotion has Honda in his corner unless does a mega swerve move which I don't really see but Red Bull will not risk Honda getting upset too early