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?
 
I think these points tie together. Ricciardo was the second to pit after Kovaleinen who suffered a puncture on lap 1. Danny had a damaged nose and the two were together as they came through turn 9. Very soon after, there was a yellow flag as they exited that corner and Kov's tyre started falling apart on the back straight.
 
Ricciardo talks about his awful first lap here

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12433/7708126/Ricciardo-still-not-over-Bahrain

Says he's not over it and is going to dwell on it a bit longer before focusing on Barcelona. I find that a bit worrying. I thought the best thing for a race driver (or any sportsmen) to do after a bad result is take a look at it to learn about it and then focus on whats coming up. If he dwells on it for too long surely he'll worry himself to death.

Having never been a race driver I wouldn't know whats best really but I was a national level cross country runner when I was younger and I remember after a bad race I just couldn't wait to get to the next one so I could put it behind me.
 
the forgotten man it seems .. back at the end of 2010 testing he was fast in a Toro Rosso and there were calls to get him on the grid to replace Jaime

One flash of his ability qualifying 6th in Bahrain but apparently criticised for not stepping up like Vettel did on the back of it ... but a lot has changed at Toro Rosso since the glory days of 2008
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Another who is touted as future world champion but does anyone think he is the real deal or is Vergne the better prospect
 
teabagyokel
I've not known a lot about Vergne who apparently is considered the fastest of the young brigade Red Bull had out of Buemi, Riccardo , Algarsuari and himself

Its very difficult to tell because Toro Rosso are pretty much back to the same team they were pre 2007 without a Newey chassis and less funding to help progress

Ricciardo thinks a victory is possible seeing what Vettel did and a lot has been said about him to get him promoted to the main team . Now like Di Resta at Mercedes he needs to step up
 
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