Ricciardo Takes It All In His Stride

As the crowds in Cardiff cheered and whooped at the motoring spectacle in front of them, behind the screen of tyre smoke was Daniel Ricciardo, the latest product of the Red Bull junior team.

Despite wowing the crowd at the Red Bull Speed Jam with his driving prowess, he was then forced to sit and watch as fellow compatriot Mark Webber opened the valves of his RB7 Formula One car, all the while eyeing the seat he hopes to one day fill.

For the moment though, the Australian protégé is learning his race-craft further down the grid with the HRT Hispania team. After spending time acting as test driver for Red Bull and sister team Toro Rosso, team principle Christian Horner brokered a deal for Ricciardo to replace Narain Karthikeyan for the remainder of the Formula One season.

Seen as a canny move to prepare the young driver for the rigours of elite motor racing, he is learning the hard way about life in Formula One.

“It’s been a little bit difficult coming in this season, but we are working well, each race is getting better,” says Ricciardo.

Since making his F1 debut at Silverstone back in July, the Australian has finished three of his four races, with his last outing in Belgium ending in a disappointing retirement. However, for the young driver, it is all about gaining experience at this level.

“We had a hell of a time in Spa with the retirement, but before that we were looking quite strong compared to previous results. I think we are moving forward. I’m getting a bit more experience and bit more confidence and it’s coming together.”

For Ricciardo, although he has a job to do with HRT, the sense of occasion was one to embrace. “To be in Spa was pretty crazy. At the first corner there was a bit of chaos and I managed to get around that.

“After that I was able to get on with my race and for the first stint it was going well. We don’t have the speed of the Red Bulls or the top guys, but we got our own little task and we’re managing to do that well.”

Ricciardo’s driving resume is impressive. With British Formula 3 Championship success in 2009 followed by an astonishing lap around the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, where he recorded a lap time 1.3 seconds quicker than Sebastian Vettel’s qualifying time , it is no surprise the Australian is so highly-rated.

With the current crop of young guns making their mark on the world’s most glamorous sport, at 22-years of age, it could be suggested that Ricciardo should already be secured in a race seat for the next season at least.

At 23 years, 135 days, Sebastian Vettel won the world championship, a record previously held by Lewis Hamilton who similarly captured the drivers’ crown aged 23. However, this doesn’t concern Daniel Ricciardo.

“I think that would be a nice step up for me. I’ll try and push for it as much as I can, but at the end of the day Red Bull’s going to decide everything for me. As long as I’m doing a good job out there on the track it’ll be alright,” he says.

The next challenge Ricciardo faces is the blistering speed of the Italian grand prix. Once heralded as the ‘fastest race in the world’ due to it’s long straights, Monza is not a track alien to him. While his mind may wonder about a future of superstardom, the Australian needs to focus on each race as it comes.

When asked about what he expects in Italy, Ricciardo’s Australian mannerisms seep through. “To have some good pizza and enjoy the atmosphere,” he says with a relaxed smirk. “It’s a circuit I’ve raced at before and I enjoy, so I’m looking forward to that. We’re going to be doing some pretty good top speeds, it’s going to be fun.”

While Ricciardo may dream about switching his HRT seat with that of a Red Bull, at the moment there is only one dominant Australian in Formula One. There many come a time when he challenges Mark Webber for that illustrious privilege, but for now is content in learning what he can from his fellow countryman. “I spent a bit of time with Mark [in Cardiff]. He’ll always try and give me a bit of advice if I ask for it and he called me up before my first ever Formula One test to give me a few words of wisdom.

“I guess he’ll do what he can to help me out. Maybe one day I’ll take his seat if he hangs up his helmet, and if I was to get into his position that would be pretty good.”

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