Future star – Daniel Ricciardo

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Written by Kate Walker

Wednesday, 17 November 2010 11:58

By now you should have heard the name Daniel Ricciardo, if you hadn’t before.

The up and coming Red Bull talent was fastest on the first day of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi, having been top in the 2009 tests, and finished second in the 2010 Formula Renault 3.5 season. Ricciardo’s 2010 season was notable for eight pole positions and four wins, not far off Sebastian Vettel’s F1 achievements this year.

The time has now come for the young Australian to either make the move to either GP2 or Formula 1. There are currently no official seats at either Red Bull or Toro Rosso, but that doesn’t stop the rumour mill from churning with the possibility that Ricciardo might soon be called upon to replace Sebastien Buemi.

Whether he makes his F1 debut in 2011 or 2012, the funny, well-mannered, and talented young racer is sure to be one of the stars of the future. He has the full weight of the Red Bull Junior Team behind him, the talent-spotting outfit that supported current Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel. And he’s no slouch on track, either – Ricciardo won the 2008 Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup, and was the 2009 British Formula 3 champion.

Girlracer was lucky enough to interview Daniel Ricciardo at Silverstone this year, although it felt more like time spent laughing with a friend that a formal press meeting. In case you missed it in July, here’s that Q&A all over again…

Regular readers will remember that my first encounter with Red Bull test driver Daniel Ricciardo involved sitting next to him on an airplane and failing to recognise him. Since then, his face has been burned onto the back of my eyelids – it's not a mistake I'm going to make twice.

But today's interview, among the bustling lunchtime crowds in the Red Bull Energy Station, is very different to our last meeting. We both recognise each other, which is always a good start. As we chat, smells from the kitchen waft over, each better than the last. Around us are mechanics scoffing their lunches before returning to the garage to fix Sebastian Vettel's nose cone.

Ricciardo is obviously well-liked by the team – our progress to the table was impeded by mechanics and behind-the-scenes crew wanting to shake the young Australian's hand, passing on their congratulations for his recent win in Hungary. And he knows everyone's name, and has a joke or two for them – it's the most relaxed atmosphere I've seen in a paddock.

In addition to his reserve role at Red Bull, Daniel Ricciardo is driving for Tech1 in the World Series by Renault. The incumbent British Formula 3 champion is very busy these days, with some weekends spent in the F1 paddock and others behind the wheel of a Formula Renault 3.5 beast.

Girlracer: How are you finding Silverstone? Have you been having a good time since you got here?

Daniel Ricciardo: Yes, of course! Obviously today's [Saturday] my first day here this weekend; I was doing work back at the factory all day yesterday. The entire morning's been cool – I really like the atmosphere here. There are a lot of true English supporters, and quite a few Red Bull fans too, I've noticed. It's always nice to see.

GR: How does it compare to Montreal? I thought the atmosphere at the circuit was the best of the season, until I came here.

DR: It varies; I think it varies at every circuit. Montreal was very impressive – you'd get to the circuit at eight o'clock, eight thirty in the morning and to see that the stands are already 80% full that early in the morning. That was really cool.

I got caught in a bit of traffic this morning, so I didn't get to see the stands that early, but judging by the traffic I'd say it was the same story here.

GR: The stands along the pit straight were rammed by half-past eight.

DR: It's cool – I think you really get the true supporters here.

GR: One of the things that makes you pretty unique in the paddock is that you're doing World Series by Renault at the same time as being an F1 test driver. How do the two days at the track compare?

DR: The thing about an F1 weekend is that it's sort of frustrating to be here and not be able to race, to be around all the cars but not get in them. So it requires a lot more patience!

Really, I'm involved in a lot more meetings. I'm listening a lot while I'm here, but I'm not really giving any feedback to anyone because I don't really have anything to give. I'm still trying to learn. So that's the main thing – I'm taking a lot in while I'm here. On a [WSR] race weekend, the meetings are quite brief compared to F1. A World Series drivers' briefing is quite different – it's a bit more relaxed.

GR: It's a completely different atmosphere, isn't it?

DR: Yeah, it is. We were at Budapest over the weekend, and there was a huge crowd. We get quite a lot of support, which is good; I think everyone knows that life in F1 can be quite hectic. So the World Series is more relaxed. Even though I'm racing on those weekends, I still feel just as relaxed as I do around here.

GR: That's a good advert for the series – be relaxed while you're racing.

DR: I guess it just proves that F1 is a bit of another world, really. You've really got to be up for anything, up for the weekend more vividly here, and I'm not even driving. If you're a full-time driver, you've got to be prepared to give quite a lot. But it's a good introduction to it.

GR: Must be handy driving for the team with all the energy drinks.

DR: Yeah, it's very good actually. When I'm driving, I try not to have too many because I'd probably get a bit too hyper.

GR: Bouncing along in the cockpit at 200mph...

DR: [Laughs] It's cool, here it's cool. At these weekends I'll go through quite a few Red Bulls just to stay awake during the long briefings, because listening all the time can get quite hard.

GR: Like being back at school?

DR: Exactly. I've got to absorb all that information!

GR: I assume that one of the people you're absorbing from is Mark Webber, who I believe has long been one of your driving heroes. What's it been like working with him, learning from him?

DR: It's really cool for me because I've watched him since 2002, when he started in F1. Even before, when he was in sports cars – I tried to follow him as much as I could.

For him to give me advice? It's really cool, and I always listen to what he's said; his advice has been good. He's always really supportive to fellow Australians, and he wants what's best for us. It's great to learn from him, as he's done everything I want to do.

GR: And he's a good model to follow – everyone likes and respects him, plus he's very fast.

DR: I think he's just a really down to earth guy, which is rare. Mark is probably the same person he was ten or fifteen years ago, just a little bit wiser, and that's really cool.

GR: Changing the subject entirely, I wanted to ask you about your recent Monaco victory. It was your first time at the track, and you won from pole. How did you feel, stepping onto that podium?

DR: That was the best victory of my career. I mean, I've had some cool victories before – I've won on the last lap and done some pretty cool things, but that was special. To do it – in front of everyone, the first time, to win from pole...

I hadn't had great starts earlier in the season, and from pole position I was second or third going into the first corner, but to do the job there was very good; I think I handled the pressure well. I did what I had to do.

Getting on the podium and kissing the trophy was as good as kissing my girlfriend – it was very good!

GR: How did it work at Monaco? You've got your World Series commitments, and you're part of the Red Bull team – were you able to party with the Red Bull guys, to celebrate their victory and yours?

DR: To be honest, the day was very hectic. At Monaco, there are so many people there. I did get invited to the Red Bull party on the Sunday evening, but I ended up spending it with my World Series team. It was a nice win for the team, and we celebrated it.

I spoke to a few of the Red Bull guys, and congratulated them on their win, but...

GR: So no back flips into the pool?

DR: No, no! I was celebrating with my team. It was a nice evening; we went out for dinner, which was fun.

GR: It must be exhausting, the emotional high you go though.

DR: I didn't sleep much on Saturday night after getting pole! Your heart's racing, and it lasts until the start of the race the next day. It's pretty exhausting, especially mentally. [Sunday] wasn't a big night out, but we still tried to create a moment to remember.

GR: Before we go, just a few silly questions. I hear you're a Guitar Hero fan – can you tell me what your favourite track is?

DR: I like the World Tour. Do you know the song 'Float On', by Modest Mouse? I like that one. And 'Feel the Pain', by Dinosaur Jr.; that's a good one. They're probably two of my regulars.

GR: How about the Dragonforce song? [Editor's note: It's notoriously tough.]

DR: No, no – I've never tried that one!

GR: Have you seen the people on YouTube playing it in expert mode?

DR: They're a bit too intense.

GR: You probably have to do F1-style training to get that good.

DR: I think it requires six or seven hours a day.

GR: No girlfriend, no life, no hobbies, just Guitar Hero. Let's finish off with a couple of quick-fire questions to find out where you're from these days. Milton Keynes or Perth?

DR: Perth

GR: Holden or Ford?

DR: Holden

GR: Albert Park or Silverstone?

DR: I've never driven Albert Park, but I'd still say Albert Park – it's home. I enjoy Silverstone as well, I've had some good races here, but... Tough question!

GR: It was probably the hardest one I've asked you! Now, finally – football or Aussie Rules?

DR: Aussie Rules Kate Walker Girlracer Magazine

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