Daniel Ricciardo: Support thread

[Mothers Worry]

Ricciardo set for Silverstone drive

From AAP via Yahoo!7 Sport:

Ricciardo set for Silverstone drive

July 1, 2011

Rising Formula One star Daniel Ricciardo is to make his racing debut at the British Grand Prix on Sunday week.

The West Australian has taken part in Friday morning practice at each of the eight races so far this year as Toro Rosso's reserve driver.

However, Ricciardo, who celebrates his 22nd birthday on Friday, is to effectively be loaned to Hispania Racing for the remainder of the 2011 campaign as replacement for Narain Karthikeyan.

The Indian, though, will step back into the car for his home grand prix which debuts from October 28-30.

Ricciardo, a product of Red Bull Racing's driver academy program, could be given a full-time drive with Toro Rosso next year.

A delighted Ricciardo said: "It's a dream come true for me - for the first time on an F1 starting grid.

"I had to pinch myself a couple of times to be sure that it's real. Now I'm excited and can hardly wait to drive at Silverstone.

"It's a new challenge, a new experience, a new team, but I'm ready and will give of my best in any event."

Hispania team chairman Jose Ramon Carabante is hopeful the 'loan' is "just the start of a fruitful relationship" with Red Bull.

"This agreement is a reward for all the hard work Hispania Racing has shown since we started in Formula One last year," said Carabante.

"We're proud the Formula One world champion team has trusted us in their effort of developing their drivers."

Woohoo!

 

 

[Ian G.]

Great news but more question marks(sorry!) about he future of Mark in F-1,tweets last nite have him at Ferrari on a 2 year deal but Mark said in Valencia last week he probaly stay at RB for a final season. 

http://www.hispaniaracing.com/news.php

[kevrulezz]

Good news about Ricciardo  I think he will be the guy that will replace Webber at Red Bull in 2013 or 2014.

From what I have read, he will replace Karthikeyan for the rest of the season except for the Indian GP, which is a bit odd as I think Karthikeyan is the only HRT driver paying for their ride, I recall Luizzi saying last year that he wouldn't pay for a drive, so I wonder which driver they will replace with Ricciardo? the one that performs worst but has brought money to the team or the one who has done better this year but might not be bringing money? Anyway I find it odd they haven't said who he will replace, maybe they will rotate who he replaces each race?

You would have to think that Red Bull are paying HRT to have Ricciardo drive as they want to evaluate him for what I assume would be a potential drive at Toro Rosso next year, or if Webber jumps ship, put him in the Red Bull as I've read I think it was Helmut Marko saying the he doesn't think ether of the two Toro Rosso drivers are good enough to be Vettel's teammate/drive the Red Bull.

Anyway its nice to see another Aussie on the grid, lets hope he can take it to Vettel Virgin & Lotus....well beat whoever his teammate will be 

[vicfrog]

  :aus:ricciardo
Two aussies on the grid fantastic news.hope he leaves rubber in liuzzi's visor with out trying to hard and throughing off the track.
in my excitement i'm trying to think of the last time two aussies were on the grid for a race.Here's a question for the brains trust did Briscoe ever get a fill in Guernsey , which would have put him in at the same time as webber?
anyway congrats to daniel. can't waitfor silverstone

  hope he's not dropping his strides for marko

[Ian G.]

STR sale is "90% certain" so i don't think Daniel will have a seat there next year,it looks like the new owner wants to retain the current drivers so Marko is "blooding" Daniel to replace Mark either next season or 2013.

[Mothers Worry]

Ricciardo to RBR; Webber to Ferrari? 

[bpratt]

That's great news to hear he's getting a run this year, even if it isn't in a Toro Rosso.

As others have mentioned it might be Webber's replacement in a year or two when he retires, as I doubt he'll go elsewhere.

[kevrulezz]

So I've been doing a bit of digging, first I still haven't found anything official that says it will be replacing Karthikeyan (can't believe I spelt the correctly first try) who he is replacing, that just happens to be everyone's opinion/conclusion, which was also what I thought when I first read about this.

secondly, not including DNQ's, this will be the first race since the 1977 Austrian GP to have more than one Aussie driver. The two drivers in 1977 were Alan Jones, who won his first race, and Vern Schuppan who finished 16th.

[Bumble1290]

So I've been doing a bit of digging, first I still haven't found anything official that says it will be replacing Karthikeyan (can't believe I spelt the correctly first try) who he is replacing, that just happens to be everyone's opinion/conclusion, which was also what I thought when I first read about this.

secondly, not including DNQ's, this will be the first race since the 1977 Austrian GP to have more than one Aussie driver. The two drivers in 1977 were Alan Jones, who won his first race, and Vern Schuppan who finished 16th.

The Austrian GP is the one were they played Happy Birthday instead of the Australian national anthem, as AJ's win was so unexpected that they didn't have a copy of it on hand.

[Mothers Worry]

Hispania confirm Ricciardo deal for British GP

From the f1times.com:

Hispania confirm Ricciardo deal for British GP

Thursday 30th June 2011    

Hispania have confirmed that Daniel Ricciardo will compete at the British Grand Prix in place of Narain Karthikeyan as part of his development programme.

The Spanish outfit signed a deal with Red Bull Racing, for whom Ricciardo is contracted to under their young driver development scheme.

He joins HRT in an official role as one of their drivers, alongside Karthikeyan and Vitantonio Liuzzi - it hasn't been confirmed how many races he will compete in, but The F1 Times understands it could remaining races, minus the Indian GP.

Chairman of the outfit, José Ramón Carabante, said he is proud to be working with Red Bull to develop Ricciardo.

"This agreement is a reward for all the hard work Hispania Racing has shown since we started in Formula 1 last year," he said in a team statement. "We're proud that the Formula 1 World Champion team has trusted us in their effort of developing their drivers. Let's hope that this is just the start of a fruitful relationship."

Colin Kolles, Hispania Racing team principal, added: "I'm happy to welcome Daniel to the team; I'm glad the team managed to conclude this deal together with Dr. Helmut Marko who deserves my personal respect."

The 21-year-old Australian driver, who has competed in every 2011 Friday practice session with the Toro Rosso team, labelled the deal a 'dream come true'.

"It's a dream come true for me – for the first time on an F1 starting grid! I had to pinch myself a couple of times to be sure that it's real.

"I’m excited and can hardly wait to drive at Silverstone. It's a new challenge, a new experience, a new team, but I'm ready and will give of my best in any event."

This isn't the first time Hispania have changed drivers during a season. In their rookie year they replaced Bruno Senna at Silverstone with Sakon Yamamoto, before dropping Karun Chandhok and introducing Christian Klien.

[Bumble1290]

I hope this is a good move for the Aussie, as many a promising driver has sat in an under performing car and lost their shot because of it. He needs to be on the pace of VL as he's no fool, and I hope Ricciardo realises that testing a car is a bit different than actually waiting for the lights to go green on Sunday afternoon.

Anything that highlights and promotes F1 in Aus is a good thing. Best of luck to him next Sunday afternoon.

[Mothers Worry]

Red Bull issues challenge to Ricciardo

From AAP via Yahoo!7 Sport:

Red Bull issues challenge to Ricciardo

July 7, 2011

Daniel Ricciardo has been told by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner he must prove he is worthy of a drive with the world champions.

Ricciardo, Australia's newest Formula One driver, is a product of the Red Bull young driver development program, and is seen as a potential star of the future.

After impressing in a Red Bull young driver test at the end of last season, the 22-year-old was appointed as reserve for Toro Rosso for this season.

Further strong performances have followed in practice sessions on a Friday morning in each of the eight grands prix to date, leading to a debut drive with Hispania Racing from this weekend's British Grand Prix onwards.

Ricciardo is effectively on loan to Hispania, and is set to drive for the remainder of the campaign with the exception of the Indian Grand Prix when Narain Karthikeyan will return to the seat.

"(Ricciardo) is very much on our radar," Horner told PA.

"He's a really talented youngster, a very gifted driver who has earned this opportunity to make his Formula One debut.

"Certainly the work he has done for us in the young driver test and in the simulator has been very, very impressive.

"This is the first step on the ladder for him. He's still very young, but it's an opportunity that has been presented to him and it's down to him to grab it.

"Obviously there is a learning curve to go through, but as we see with these young drivers they develop very quickly. Just look at Paul di Resta, look at Sebastian (Vettel).

"It will be interesting to see how he now progresses."

With doubts over Mark Webber's future, there is a possibility his compatriot could replace him at Red Bull next season.

However, it is more than likely Ricciardo will sign for Toro Rosso for 2012 prior to stepping up to Red Bull, following a similar career path to Vettel.

"Daniel has no experience of grand prix racing, he has an awful lot to learn, and HRT and Toro Rosso are the best environment for him to do that, as Sebastian did with Toro Rosso in 2007 and 2008," added Horner.

"He needs to develop, it would be wrong to rush him through. He now has to prove himself in Formula One after proving himself in the lower categories.

"As I say, he is very talented, but it's one thing doing it in testing, it's another doing it under pressure.
"But we'll certainly be keeping a very close eye on him."

[Mothers Worry]

I know this news is a bit stale but I was prompted by the James Allen piece last night to get a dedicated thread up for DR. According to James Allen (who I am still developing more respect for; he's a much better motorsport journalist than he was a race commentator) Daniel Ricciardo's place in the greater scheme of things is not set and Marko's politics do not make Ricciardo's position certain.

Anyhow:

Daniel Ricciardo interview | On life in F1 with Hispania Racing

From redbull.com:

Daniel Ricciardo interview | On life in F1 with Hispania Racing

Aug 6, 2011

As Formula One takes its mid-season break, HRT's rookie star Daniel Ricciardo is still working hard.

What did you know about HRT before you joined the team?
Not much. I didn’t really know any of the personnel, everybody was new to me. I spent last year with Red Bull and a bit of this year with Toro Rosso so I was quite enclosed with them and therefore didn’t really know many other people in F1. Coming here was a new experience and my knowledge of the team was very limited.

How have the team welcomed you?
They were really nice and helpful. Silverstone wasn’t going to be easy, but they made it as easy as they could for me. There was no tension and they let me build into it, everybody was welcoming. I noticed that last year there were a few driver changes, so I guess they were used to having a new driver in the car. They made it easy for me, which was very nice.

    'I would love to be World Champion one day… that is the real dream'

Formula One’s first ever race took place at Silverstone in 1950. Your debut was at the legendary circuit, could your name be engraved in F1 history forever?
I would like it to be remembered; I would love to be World Champion one day and have my name on the list. That is the real dream. Although I am sure it is the dream for pretty much all the Formula One drivers. I think I am at a good age and very motivated to really have that as my long term goal. I think it was really special to have my first race at Silverstone, with all the history that surrounds it. Personally, I would have picked Australia as my first race, but I have always said that if it wasn’t there, then Silverstone would be the perfect place to make my debut.

What advice have [HRT Team Principal] Colin Kolles and [Technical Director] Geoff Willis given you?
I have spoken with Colin a bit, but haven’t had the chance to spend too much time with Geoff yet. They have been pretty helpful and straightforward but also realistic on what is expected. For the first few races they have just let me build into it and not put too much pressure on me. They have said it will come. I’ve had some good results in junior categories and I guess they have faith in me that, sooner or later, I will be on the pace and where they expect me to be: getting some good results for the team. They haven’t put any real pressure on for now which I think is nice. But I also think the team expects some improvement now for the second half of the season. It is a good level of pressure, nothing I can’t handle, but I also ask a lot of myself.

How would you describe your driving style and what are your first impressions of the F111?
I like high-speed corners, but with the F111 it is taking a little time to build up to that. Tonio has been quicker in the high-speed sectors in the first few races. That is a part that normally I am strong at, so I expect to get better. As for the rest, I am quite a smooth driver and not too erratic; I think I drive with quite a lot of finesse. I guess that is what has got me here. Now I have to find a little bit more and be different from the others and, hopefully, better than them.

    'I see it as quite a privilege to have driven so many cars already'

Tonio Liuzzi achieved the team’s best ever result in Canada. Will he be tough to beat?
I think the result in Canada was really good, Tonio has proved he is a very capable driver and I think he will be tough to beat. In Silverstone I was quite off his pace. I knew it would take a bit of time, but you always want a bit more. But it was very clear to me that I have a strong team-mate. It is going to take my best efforts to really try and get in front of him and to push for a personal best result for the team. I don’t think it is going to come through luck; it’s just going to be hard work for now. I really have to soak in as much information as I can to try and become the driver I want to be and, hopefully, the one who maybe gets a personal best result for HRT one day.

This year you have driven in World Series by Renault, been test driver at Toro Rosso and now racing with HRT, quite an impressive CV for a 22-year-old. What are the difficulties in adapting to each category and which are the differences between one car and another?
It has been a very busy year for me racing in World Series, spending some Friday’s with Toro Rosso, testing the Red Bull at the end of last year and now HRT. I actually see it as quite a privilege to have driven so many cars already at the age of 22! It is not easy to adapt to a new car, but having jumped around in them quite a bit this year has helped me out a lot. In World Series everything is a bit slower than F1. But each time I sit in the car, whether it is World Series or F1, once I am in the cockpit I am mentally prepared for what the car is. I don’t have to physically drive it to remember what it is doing.

What did your friends and family say when they found out you would be racing in F1 with HRT?
I had lots of calls, messages and emails. I answered about five per cent of them; I was quite overwhelmed. In one day I had about 200 messages! I managed to read them all, but I haven’t got around yet to replying to all of them. It was awesome. For my family it was quite emotional because it has always been a dream of mine to be in Formula One. For them, to see it come true was quite a special feeling. I called my sister in Australia and she flew over for the race, so it was all very emotional.

    'I have to aim high because it is only going to help me for the future'

What is your main objective for the second half of the season?
The target is to continue learning. I think that will come with time in the car. If I could manage to sneak out a personal best result or edge out Tonio and the Virgins in a few races that would be a strong result. I have to aim high because it is only going to help me for the future. I think that for the last few races of the year I can really start to push and aim for it.

What are your plans for the summer break?
I have a few PR events in Austria and Italy that I have to attend to. Maybe I will just have five days off and, honestly, I will probably spend those days training. With all the travelling it is quite hard getting in the gym and doing what is required. So I think it won’t be much of a holiday.

[Ian G.]

Good luck to him,must be on the Ferrari radar if he shows some form over the next few years.
Reports last night that STR is indeed sold so probaly no career path there,probaly straight into RB in 2013.
 http://www.formula1blog.com/2011/09/01/spanish-media-report-toro-rosso-sold-to-arab-investors/

[Mothers Worry]

Ricciardo 'happy' to finally beat teammate

From thef1times.com:

Ricciardo 'happy' to finally beat teammate

Saturday 10th September 2011

Daniel Ricciardo beat his teammate on Saturday for the first time after he qualified 23rd, almost two-tenths quicker than the far more experienced Vitantonio Liuzzi.

The Australian declared himself "happy" to have achieved his target, but he's left wanting more.

"It feels really nice not being on the back of the grid and finishing ahead of Tonio, which is a small target I had set myself, so I’m happy to have achieved that," said the HRT driver.

"But I don’t want to stop there, I want to do it constantly and progress in one way or another."

It's been a difficult weekend for Ricciardo so far after spending much of the three practice sessions stuck in the garage after suffering mechanical issues with his F111.

Hispania [HRT] Monza Qualifying Results:

Pos   Driver     Team   Q1 Time   Q2 Time   Q3 Time
23.    D. Ricciardo    Hispania    1:28.054         
24.    V. Liuzzi            Hispania    1:28.231    

Q1 107% Time:    1:29.854


   

[Mothers Worry]

Ricciardo expects to miss out on Indian GP

From thef1times.com:

Ricciardo expects to miss out on Indian GP

Saturday 01st October 2011   

Daniel Ricciardo says he expects to be the one who misses out on the opportunity to race at the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in a months time.

The team has opted to give their now third driver, Narain Karthikeyan, the chance to drive in front of his home crowd after he was replaced by the young Australian earlier in the season.

It hasn't been confirmed whether Ricciardo or teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi will miss out on the weekend, but the 22-year-old says he expects it to be him, despite his manager earlier confirming a contract to race in all the remaining races in 2011.

"I am not sure 100 per cent sure what's happening but at least I will be driving in the practice session", Ricciardo told the Press Trust of India.

"When it's part of the deal and agreement, you follow it. I still have lot of races left in the season and you look forward to many more things when you do not race."

This is despite the fact that he is faster than the other two..............

[bpratt]

Ricciardo expects to miss out on Indian GP


This is despite the fact that he is faster than the other two..............

It always was well known that Karthikeyan was going to be driving in his home GP due to sponsorship arrangements, however most would have expected to see the one remaining would be the one who is performing the best in the team.

Let's hope it remains that way.

[Mothers Worry]

............. due to sponsorship arrangements...........

Read wallet stuffing.