Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo quickest again in F1 tests

Daniel Ricciardo completed an impressive showing in this week’s F1 young driver tests, setting the quickest time in every session in Abu Dhabi. The 21 year-old Perth born racer – who was quickest overall yesterday– once again finished this afternoon’s session fastest, with a time seven tenths of a second quicker than Renault’s Jerome D'Ambrosio.

As Red Bull Racing reserve driver, Daniel was one of few drivers who had the opportunity to complete a second full day of running in the F1 car today. The 2009 British F3 champion certainly made the most it, setting the quickest time in this morning’s session by over a second from Ferrari reserve driver Jules Bianchi.

Continuing to work with the championship winning Red Bull team, Daniel improved even further in the afternoon to set a time 1.3 seconds quicker than Sebastian Vettel’s pole position in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Saturday. Although the track is thought to have improved by nearly 1.5 seconds due to an increased level of rubber on track, Daniel’s consistently impressive performance has marked him out as the young driver to watch by the F1 fraternity.

Reflecting on his test, Daniel said, “I had the most amazing time in the car. The team seemed very pleased which is really nice for me and I got on so well with everyone over the two days. It’s an amazing experience to work with so many people who are all focused on one car; it is such a professional team effort.

“I’m not sure what this test will mean for next year, but I know even more now that this is where I want to be. Whether I might be in F1 next year or the following, I will do everything to make sure it happens and I think this test has probably helped me.

“I feel like I’ve had a really eventful season and now with the F1 test over I can step back a bit; I’ve done what I can. It’s been an amazing experience and I hope I can repeat it again soon.”

Daniel will get one more taste of F1 machinery before Christmas with a demonstration of the Red Bull car in his home town of Perth next weekend.

 

Thanks, but not home yet - still in Sadelaide

The pleasure was all mine - the Doc is sensational too!

I know we have

BTW, get out of Daniels thread

 

Toro Rosso have announced that Daniel Ricciardo will be their third and reserve drive for the 2011 Formula One season.

The 21-year-old Australian will take part in Friday morning free practice sessions at all next year's grands prix, alternately replacing Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari.

Driving for world champions Red Bull Racing, Ricciardo recently set the pace on both days of F1's young driver test in Abu Dhabi.

A product of the Red Bull Young Driver Programme, he finished second in the Formula Renault 3.5 series this year after winning the 2009 British Formula Three championship.

"I am really excited at the prospect of driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso in the free practice one sessions at the grands prix next year, so I have to say thanks to Red Bull for this great opportunity," Ricciardo said.

"My main priority for 2011 is to win the Formula Renault 3.5 championship, but my ultimate aim is to be a full-time Formula One driver and this new role has to be the best step towards achieving that ambition."

 

Have Webber retire

 

Helmut Marko has admitted his plan is to see Daniel Ricciardo with a full race seat in Formula One "no later than 2012".

Red Bull-backed Australian Ricciardo, 21, has been placed for the 2011 season with Toro Rosso and will drive on the Friday mornings at grands prix.

His placement is seen as putting strong pressure on the Faenza based team's regular drivers Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari.

Indeed, Marko did not categorically rule out a 2011 race debut for Ricciardo during an interview with German-language motorsport-total.com.

"It all depends on the parties involved," said Red Bull's driver programme manager Marko, clearly referring to Buemi and Alguersuari.

"The plan is to see him in a race cockpit in 2012 at the latest," added the Austrian.

 

Daniel back in action and back at the top

Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo continued the 2011 season where he left off in 2010 today, setting the pace in the first Formula Renault 3.5 test of the season at the Motorland circuit in Spain. The Red Bull Junior driver, who has switched from the Tech 1 team to Czech squad ISR during the off season, set the quickest time of the day with his new team.

Having narrowly missed out on the Formula Renault 3.5 title last year, Ricciardo is a firm favourite for the title this year, as he combines his season in FR3.5 with his duties as reserve and test driver for Red Bull Racing and his role as Friday driver for the Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 team.

 

Daniel piles on the pressure in Spain

Daniel Ricciardo laid down the gauntlet to his Formula Renault 3.5 rivals today, with another dominant performance around the Motorland circuit in Aragon, Spain. The 21 year-old continued his strong pace from yesterday to top the time sheets again on the final day of testing today, setting a new FR3.5 record around the Spanish circuit in the process.

Perth born Daniel wasted little time in setting the pace in his FR3.5 car today, going quickest within the first hour of testing this morning (Wednesday). As track conditions improved, several drivers went quicker, but Daniel soon answered back with a succession of flying laps, two of which beat the current FR3.5 track record.

 

Rain in Spain can't dampen Ricciardo's pace

Daniel Ricciardo continued his dominance of Formula Renault 3.5 testing today, with a strong performance around a very wet Circuit de Catalunya on the outskirts of Barcelona. The 21 year-old Australian was quickest in this morning’s practice session with a time that remained unbeaten for the rest of the day.

Having been in Barcelona to watch his Red Bull F1 colleagues complete their pre-season preparations, it was Daniel’s turn around the Circuit de Catalunya today as the second Formula Renault 3.5 test of the season got underway.

Daniel wasted no time in making his mark, despite the tricky conditions and the Red Bull Junior was quick to stake his place at the top of the timing sheets. Torrential rain mid way through the morning gave the FR3.5 drivers a taste of some wet running, but conditions became so treacherous as the track surface began to flood that the morning session was brought to an early conclusion.



Following a prolonged lunch break, Daniel was back on track in his ISR car. The Perth born racer completed only a handful of laps early on, as poor track conditions and frequent red flags kept him in the pits.

Mid way though the afternoon Daniel put in a quick lap to put him second on the timing screens just behind Canadian racer Robert Wickens, and by the end of the day neither driver had managed to find any more pace on the wet track. With his lap from the morning session remaining unbeaten, Daniel ends his third consecutive FR3.5 test day as the quickest driver.