Daniel Ricciardo, an Italian-Australian racing driver, concluded his Formula One career by representing McLaren and competing under the Australian flag.Daniel Ricciardo is an Australian racing driver who has made a significant impact in the world of Formula 1. Born on July 1, 1989, in Perth, Western Australia, Ricciardo began his racing career in karting before moving up the ranks to compete in various junior single-seater championships.
Bio/Wiki
Age-34years
Height- 1.79 m
Weight-6kg
Born- 1 July 1989
Birthplace- Perth, Australia
Full name- Daniel Joseph Ricciardo AM
Profession-Racing Driver, Motorsports racing driver
Spouse- Heidi Berger
Nationality-Australian
Date joined-2023 (Red Bull Racing)
Family
Daniel Joseph Ricciardo, born on 1 July 1989 in Perth, Western Australia, comes from an Italian-Australian background. His father, Giuseppe “Joe” Ricciardo, was born in Ficarra (Messina) and immigrated to Australia at the age of seven along with his family. Meanwhile, Ricciardo’s mother, Grace, was born in Australia but her parents originally hailed from Casignana (Calabria). In addition to his parents, Daniel also has a sister named Michelle. Growing up in Duncraig, one of Perth’s northern suburbs, Ricciardo’s earliest recollections of motorsports involve watching his father compete at the nearby Barbagallo Raceway in Wanneroo.
Girlfriend
Heidi Berger is the person with whom he is currently in a romantic partnership or dating.
Children
Gerhard Berger, the former Formula 1 driver, has a daughter who is associated with him through the bond of family ties.
Career
In 2011, Ricciardo made his Formula 1 debut as a test driver for the Toro Rosso team. He impressed the team with his talent and was soon promoted to a full-time race seat for the 2012 season. During his two seasons with Toro Rosso, Ricciardo showcased his skills, consistently outperforming his more experienced teammate and earning a reputation as a talented and promising driver.
In 2014, Ricciardo joined the prestigious Red Bull Racing team, partnering alongside four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. It was a breakout season for Ricciardo as he stunned the Formula 1 world by winning three races and finishing third in the Drivers’ Championship, ahead of his teammate. His victories included his maiden win in Canada, followed by further triumphs in Hungary and Belgium.
Ricciardo continued to be a force to be reckoned with, consistently challenging the dominant Mercedes team in the following seasons. Known for his overtaking prowess and aggressive yet controlled driving style, Ricciardo earned a reputation as one of the most exciting drivers on the grid.
In 2018, Ricciardo shocked the Formula 1 community by announcing his move to the Renault team for the 2019 season. The decision was seen as a gamble, but Ricciardo aimed to help Renault return to its former glory. While the team faced challenges, Ricciardo continued to demonstrate his skill and secured several impressive podium finishes during his time with Renault.
In 2021, Ricciardo joined McLaren, partnering with Lando Norris. He hoped to further solidify his position as one of the top drivers in the sport. Throughout the season, Ricciardo showcased his talent and gradually adapted to the McLaren team, earning valuable points and contributing to the team’s success.
Formula One Career
Ricciardo made his track debut for Red Bull Racing in 2009, impressing with his fast lap times.
He joined Toro Rosso as a test and reserve driver in 2011 and later raced for HRT.
In 2012, Ricciardo became a full-time driver for Toro Rosso, scoring his first World Championship points.
He moved to Red Bull Racing in 2014 and achieved multiple podium finishes and wins.
Ricciardo had strong performances in 2016, winning races and finishing third in the Drivers’ Championship.
In 2017, he won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and achieved several podium finishes.
Ricciardo continued to race for Red Bull Racing in 2018, winning the Monaco Grand Prix from pole position.
Renault (2019–2020)
In 2019, Daniel Ricciardo joined Renault and had a challenging season with retirements and mixed results. He finished in 9th place in the championship.
In 2020, Ricciardo had a new teammate, Esteban Ocon. He had a consistent season with several strong finishes, including two podiums, and finished 5th in the championship.
McLaren (2021–2022)
In the 2021 Formula One season, Daniel Ricciardo joined McLaren as a replacement for Carlos Sainz Jr. and partnered with Lando Norris. Here is a summary of his performances throughout the season:
Bahrain Grand Prix: Ricciardo qualified 6th and finished 7th despite floor damage caused by a collision with Pierre Gasly. Emilia Romagna Grand Prix: He qualified 6th, moved up to 5th on the opening lap, and finished 6th after letting Norris pass to contend for the podium.
Portuguese Grand Prix: Starting from 16th, Ricciardo recovered to 9th during the race.Spanish Grand Prix: Qualified 7th, climbed to 5th on the opening lap, defended against Sergio Pérez, and finished 6th.
Monaco Grand Prix: Eliminated in the second phase of qualifying, finished 12th during the race. Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Started 13th, climbed into the points, and finished 9th.
French Grand Prix: Finished in 6th position.
Styrian Grand Prix: Qualified 13th, suffered a loss in power, and finished 13th.
Austrian Grand Prix: Finished 7th after starting 13th.
British Grand Prix: Qualified 7th, finished 6th in the sprint race, and benefited from Verstappen’s retirement to finish 5th in the Grand Prix.
Hungarian Grand Prix: Qualified 11th, climbed to 2nd but was wiped out in a collision, and finished 11th with significant car damage.
Belgian Grand Prix: Qualified 4th in wet conditions, race abandoned after 2 laps behind the safety car, classified 4th, and scored 6 points.
Dutch Grand Prix: Qualified 10th, finished outside the points due to team orders.
Italian Grand Prix: Qualified 5th, finished 3rd in the sprint race, started the Grand Prix on the front row, took the lead, and won the race, McLaren’s first victory since 2012.
Russian Grand Prix: Qualified 5th, finished 4th despite a poor start and slow pit stop.
Turkish Grand Prix: Knocked out in Q1, progressed to 13th during the race.
United States Grand Prix: Qualified 7th, finished 5th, and defended against Sainz to secure crucial points for McLaren.
Mexico City Grand Prix: Qualified 7th, suffered front wing damage, finished 12th, while Norris scored points.
São Paulo Grand Prix: Retired with a power issue while challenging for 7th place.
Qatar Grand Prix: Qualified 14th, finished 12th due to fuel issues.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Qualified 11th, finished 5th, securing points for McLaren.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Qualified 10th, finished 12th after being overcut, ending the season in 8th place overall with one podium.
Red Bull third driver (2023–)
Daniel Ricciardo, who left McLaren in 2022, chose to return to Red Bull Racing as a third driver for 2023. In this role, he will engage in PR activities, assist in simulator and factory work, and support the race team during race weekends through chat channels and communications.
Achievement/Awards
Here is a rephrased version of the listed achievements and honors:
- In 2013, he was awarded The Bruce McLaren Trophy by BRDC.
- In 2014, he received the Trofeo Lorenzo Bandini and the Confartigianato Motori Driver of the Year award.
- He was also named the GQ Australia Sportsman of the Year in 2014.
- In the same year, he was honored with The Bruce McLaren Trophy and The Innes Ireland Trophy by BRDC.
- In 2015, he was awarded The Innes Ireland Trophy by BRDC and the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough Performance of the Year.
- The Bruce McLaren Trophy was again bestowed upon him in 2016 by BRDC.
- In 2018, he was named the Confartigianato Motori Driver of the Year.
- In 2022, he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Australia Day Honours for his significant service to motor sport as a competitor and ambassador, as well as his contributions to the community.
Net Worth 2023
Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth is approximately $96 million USD as of 2023, encompassing his income derived from his racing profession, including his salary as a Formula One driver and his brand endorsements.
Latest News About Daniel Ricciardo
When asked about the potential impact of Daniel Ricciardo’s upcoming tyre test on the decision to continue with Nyck de Vries, Helmut Marko remained tight-lipped, keeping his plans undisclosed.
After a remarkable debut at the Italian Grand Prix last year, which saw him secure points and earn a contract with AlphaTauri, De Vries has faced greater challenges adapting to Formula 1 than he or anyone else had anticipated. So far, the 28-year-old driver has yet to score any points, with his best finish being 12th place at the Monaco Grand Prix. He has been outperformed by his Japanese teammate in seven out of nine qualifying sessions and races.
Earlier in the season, Marko mentioned that De Vries was on a metaphorical “yellow card,” implying that his position was precarious. This statement still stands, with mounting pressure on De Vries.
As a result, there have been rumors suggesting that Red Bull may consider replacing De Vries with Ricciardo if the latter can demonstrate a return to his previous form during his tyre test in the RB19, following the British Grand Prix.
However, when asked directly about this possibility, Marko declined to provide a definite answer. He emphasized that the current focus should be on celebrating the successes of Red Bull Racing. Marko stated that no specific timeframe has been established for making such a decision and mentioned ongoing changes within AlphaTauri that need to be sorted out first. He assured that when the time comes, a decision will be made.