History of Daniel Ricciardo in Timeline
Daniel Ricciardo is an Australian-Italian Formula One driver racing for Red Bull. With 8 Grand Prix wins and 32 podium finishes, he is a highly accomplished driver.
1960: Jack Brabham's Belgian Grand Prix Victory
In 1960, Jack Brabham emerged victorious at the Belgian Grand Prix.
July 1989: Early Life and Family Background
Born in July 1989, Daniel Ricciardo grew up in Duncraig, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. His father, Giuseppe "Joe" Ricciardo, had emigrated from Ficarra, Italy. His mother, Grace, born in Australia, has family origins in Casignana, Italy.
July 1989: Birth of Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo was born in July 1989 in Perth, Western Australia, to an Italian-Australian family. His father, Giuseppe, had emigrated from Italy at a young age.
2005: Early Racing Career
At 15, Ricciardo began his racing career in the Western Australian Formula Ford championship, driving an older Van Diemen race car. He finished eighth by the season's end. Later that year, he participated in the national Formula Ford series at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne but faced challenges due to his car's age and lack of competitiveness.
2007: Joining Red Bull Junior Team
After achieving a commendable sixth-place finish in the 2007 Formula Renault 2.0 Italia championship, Ricciardo's talent was recognized, and he was selected to join the prestigious Red Bull Junior Team, marking a significant step in his motorsport journey.
2008: Formula Three Debut
In the middle of the 2008 season, Ricciardo made his Formula Three debut at the Nürburgring with SG Formula's Formula 3 Euro Series team. Despite limited experience, he secured eighth place in qualifying for his first race and finished sixth.
October 2009: Signing with Tech 1
Ricciardo signed with Tech 1 in October 2009 to compete in the 2010 season. He had previously collaborated with the team at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal.
December 2009: First Formula One Test
Daniel Ricciardo's first experience behind the wheel of a Formula One car came in December 2009 when he participated in a young drivers' test for Red Bull Racing at the Circuito de Jerez in Spain. He impressed with his performance, clocking the fastest time over the three-day test.
2009: British Formula 3 Championship and Macau Grand Prix
Ricciardo continued his racing career in 2009, competing in the British Formula 3 Championship with Carlin Motorsport. He later participated in the Macau Grand Prix with the same team.
November 2010: Dominating the Young Driver's Test
In November 2010, Ricciardo further solidified his reputation as a rising star in motorsport when he participated in the end-of-season young driver's test at the Yas Marina Circuit. He dominated the event, setting a lap time that was even faster than Sebastian Vettel's qualifying time for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
2010: Mark Webber's Hungarian Grand Prix Victory
In 2010, Mark Webber won the Hungarian Grand Prix while driving for Red Bull Racing.
2010: Success in Formula Renault 3.5 Series
Ricciardo participated in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2010. He faced a setback early in the season due to a mountain bike incident that forced him to miss the second test. However, he quickly recovered and went on to achieve several pole positions and race wins throughout the season.
2010: Competing with Tech 1
Ricciardo partnered with Brendon Hartley at Tech 1 for the 2010 racing season.
2010: Test and Reserve Driver
Ricciardo's impressive testing led to him being named the test and reserve driver for both Red Bull Racing and its sister team, Scuderia Toro Rosso, in 2010.
2010: McLaren's One-Two Finish at the Canadian Grand Prix
The 2010 Canadian Grand Prix saw the McLaren team achieve a one-two finish, highlighting their dominance in the race.
June 2011: Formula One Debut with Hispania Racing
In June 2011, Daniel Ricciardo signed with Hispania Racing, replacing Narain Karthikeyan for the remainder of the season, except for the Indian Grand Prix. This move marked Ricciardo's debut in Formula One, starting at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
October 2011: Continued Learning Curve with HRT
In October 2011, ahead of the Indian Grand Prix, HRT F1 announced that Vitantonio Liuzzi would be replaced by Narain Karthikeyan, allowing Daniel Ricciardo to continue racing. This decision was driven by Red Bull Racing, who had paid HRT to provide Ricciardo with valuable experience. Ricciardo participated in the Indian and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, retiring from the latter due to mechanical issues. He concluded the season with a 20th place finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
December 2011: Signing with Scuderia Toro Rosso
In December 2011, Daniel Ricciardo's move to Scuderia Toro Rosso for the 2012 Formula One season was confirmed. He was set to partner with Jean-Éric Vergne.
2011: Formula One Debut with HRT
In 2011, Daniel Ricciardo made his Formula One debut at the British Grand Prix driving for the HRT team, as part of an agreement with Red Bull Racing.
2011: Test and Reserve Driver for Toro Rosso
Ricciardo continued his role as a test and reserve driver in 2011, this time exclusively for Scuderia Toro Rosso. His responsibilities included participating in the first free practice session at each race weekend, allowing him to gain more experience in a Formula One environment.
2011: Malaysian Grand Prix Podium
The 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix marked a significant achievement as the Renault team earned a podium finish.
2011: Racing for ISR Racing
Before his Formula One debut with HRT, Ricciardo competed in the 2011 racing season driving for the ISR Racing team.
2012: Driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso
Daniel Ricciardo drove for Scuderia Toro Rosso in the 2012 Formula One season alongside Jean-Éric Vergne.
2012: Joining Scuderia Toro Rosso
Ricciardo joined Scuderia Toro Rosso as a full-time driver in 2012, marking the beginning of his multi-year tenure with the team.
2012: McLaren's Brazilian Grand Prix Victory
The McLaren team achieved a victory at the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix, marking a significant moment in their history.
2013: Re-signing with Scuderia Toro Rosso
Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Éric Vergne were re-signed by Scuderia Toro Rosso for the 2013 Formula One season.
2013: Continuing with Scuderia Toro Rosso
Daniel Ricciardo continued to drive for Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2013, gaining valuable experience in Formula One.
October 2014: New Teammate for 2015
In October 2014, following Sebastian Vettel's departure from Red Bull Racing, it was announced that Daniil Kvyat would partner with Daniel Ricciardo for the 2015 Formula One season.
2014: Joining Infiniti Red Bull Racing
At the start of the 2014 Formula One season, Daniel Ricciardo replaced Mark Webber at Infiniti Red Bull Racing, becoming teammates with four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.
2014: Successful 2014 Season Conclusion
Daniel Ricciardo concluded the 2014 Formula One season with a podium finish (third) at the United States Grand Prix, his last of the year. He secured third place in the drivers' championship at the Brazilian Grand Prix, despite retiring for the first time since the Malaysian Grand Prix due to a broken suspension. In the final race, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he started from the pit lane due to a front-wing infringement but managed to finish fourth and set his first fastest lap in Formula One. Overall, he earned 238 points, three wins, and five podium finishes.
2014: Victories in Hungary and Belgium
Daniel Ricciardo continued his successful 2014 season with victories in the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix. In Hungary, starting fourth, he overtook Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in the closing laps to secure the win, becoming the second Australian to win the race after Mark Webber. His Belgian Grand Prix win, his third of the season, came after a collision between the two Mercedes drivers, making him the first Australian to win the race since Jack Brabham in 1960.
2014: Podium Finish in the United States Grand Prix
In 2014, Daniel Ricciardo achieved a podium finish by securing third place at the United States Grand Prix.
2014: Promotion to Red Bull Racing
In 2014, Ricciardo was promoted to Red Bull Racing, replacing Mark Webber and becoming teammate to Sebastian Vettel. He finished the season third in the championship, securing his first three Formula One victories in Canada, Hungary, and Belgium.
2014: Early Success with Red Bull Racing
In 2014, despite failing to finish in the Malaysian Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo secured his first points of the season with a fourth-place finish in Bahrain, starting from 13th. He repeated this result in China. His first podium finish came with a third place in Spain. At the Monaco Grand Prix, despite qualifying third, Ricciardo dropped to fifth before recovering to third and narrowly missing second place to Lewis Hamilton.
2014: Maiden Formula One Victory
The 2014 Canadian Grand Prix saw Daniel Ricciardo achieve his first Formula One victory. Starting sixth, he moved up to third during pit stops and overtook Sergio Pérez and Nico Rosberg in the final laps to win. This made him the fourth Australian Formula One Grand Prix winner, joining Jack Brabham, Alan Jones, and Mark Webber, and broke Mercedes' streak of six consecutive victories. His performance, including consistently beating teammate Vettel in the first half of the season, drew praise from fellow drivers, with Fernando Alonso describing him as "unbelievable", "very, very smart", and "very respectful".
February 2015: Top Gear Fastest Lap
On February 8, 2015, during an episode of the British motoring show Top Gear, Daniel Ricciardo set a new record for the fastest lap time by a Formula One driver on the Top Gear test track. His time of 1:42.2 surpassed the previous record held by Lewis Hamilton.
April 2015: Laureus World Sports Award
In April 2015, Daniel Ricciardo received the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year in recognition of his outstanding performance during the 2014 Formula One season.
2015: Red Bull Racing's Struggles
During the 2015 Formula One season, Red Bull Racing fell behind Ferrari and Williams in the championship fight against Mercedes. The team's performance was hampered by the Renault power unit, which lagged behind the developments made by Mercedes and Ferrari. The RB11 car only displayed competitiveness on slower, twisty circuits that demanded high downforce or in wet weather conditions, highlighting the strength of the car's chassis but also the power unit's shortcomings.
2015: West Coast Eagles Supporter
In 2015, Daniel Ricciardo was a devoted supporter of the West Coast Eagles, an Australian Football League team.
2016: Rising Profile and Recognition
By 2016, Daniel Ricciardo was recognized for his positive demeanor, with The New York Times highlighting his frequent smile and sunny disposition within the Formula One paddock.
2016: Malaysian Grand Prix Victory and Consistent Performance
Daniel Ricciardo started the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix in fourth position but moved up to second after a first-lap collision between Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg. He then took the lead and secured his first victory of the season when Lewis Hamilton retired due to engine failure. Ricciardo celebrated with his signature "shoey" on the podium, even convincing team boss Christian Horner and fellow podium finishers Max Verstappen and Nico Rosberg to participate. He finished the season third in the Drivers' Championship with 256 points, one pole position, one win, seven podiums, and three fastest laps. Notably, he was one of only two drivers, along with Sergio Pérez, to be classified in every race of the season, highlighting his consistency.
2016: Continued Support for West Coast Eagles
Daniel Ricciardo's support for the West Coast Eagles continued into 2016, during which he held the coveted position of the club's number-one ticket holder.
2016: Victory in Malaysia and Third in Championship
In 2016, Daniel Ricciardo returned to winning ways at the Malaysian Grand Prix after a two-year drought. He secured another third-place finish in the drivers' championship that year.
2016: Renault Returns to Formula One
In 2016, Renault made its return to Formula One as a constructor.
2017: Azerbaijan Grand Prix Victory
Ricciardo added to his win tally in 2017 with a victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix while driving for Red Bull.
August 2018: Ricciardo Signs with Renault
On August 3, 2018, Daniel Ricciardo signed a contract to drive for Renault for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
2018: Ricciardo Announces Departure from Red Bull and Faces Challenges
On August 3, 2018, Daniel Ricciardo surprised the racing world by announcing his departure from Red Bull at the end of the season. This was followed by a string of retirements and setbacks, including collisions, mechanical failures, and grid penalties. Despite these challenges, he managed to secure a fourth-place finish in Hungary and Japan.
2018: Victories in China and Monaco
The year 2018 saw Ricciardo achieve victories at the Chinese and Monaco Grands Prix, adding to his growing list of accomplishments with Red Bull Racing.
2018: End of Ricciardo's Red Bull Tenure
In 2018, Daniel Ricciardo secured pole position at the Mexican Grand Prix but suffered another retirement due to a hydraulics issue. Frustrated by the recurring mechanical problems, he expressed his disappointment and questioned the point of finishing the season. Despite these setbacks, he managed a fourth-place finish in Abu Dhabi, concluding his time with Red Bull.
2018: 2018 Formula One Season
In 2018, Daniel Ricciardo started the season with a fourth-place finish in Australia, followed by a non-finish in Bahrain due to an electrical failure. He then secured a commanding victory in China, overtaking five cars in the final laps. However, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw a controversial collision with teammate Max Verstappen, resulting in retirement for both drivers and a public apology.
2018: Monaco Grand Prix Podium
Daniel Ricciardo secured a podium finish at the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix, marking a notable accomplishment in his career.
2018: 2018 Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix
At the 2018 Spanish Grand Prix, Ricciardo finished fifth and set a new track record. He then achieved a dominant victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, topping every qualifying session and setting a new lap record. Despite facing engine issues during the race, he held off Sebastian Vettel to secure his first win at Monaco and his last podium of the season.
2019: Ricciardo's First Season with Renault
Daniel Ricciardo had a challenging start to his Renault career in 2019, with retirements in the first two races. He eventually scored his first points for the team with a seventh-place finish in China. However, his season continued to be plagued by incidents and inconsistent results.
2019: Move to Renault
Ricciardo embarked on a new chapter in his Formula One career in 2019 when he signed with Renault.
2020: Eleven Race Point-Scoring Streak
Throughout 2020, Daniel Ricciardo went on an eleven race point-scoring streak. This included a fourth place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix, along with setting the fastest lap.
2020: Early Season Races for Ricciardo
The start of the 2020 Formula One season saw Daniel Ricciardo retire from the Austrian Grand Prix due to overheating issues. He followed this with an eighth-place finish in the Styrian Grand Prix and another eighth-place finish in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
2020: Continuing with Renault
Ricciardo remained with Renault for the 2020 Formula One season.
2020: Renault Podiums and Notable Performances
In 2020, Daniel Ricciardo achieved several notable performances. He secured third place at the Eifel Grand Prix, marking the team's first podium since 2011 and his first since rejoining Renault. He also achieved a podium finish at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
2020: Ocon Joins Renault
Esteban Ocon replaced Nico Hulkenberg as Daniel Ricciardo's teammate at Renault for the 2020 Formula One season.
2020: Ricciardo's Second Season with Renault
Daniel Ricciardo continued to drive for Renault in the 2020 Formula One season.
2020: Ricciardo Equals Best Renault Result
At the 2020 British Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo achieved his best result for Renault up to that point, finishing fourth. This result matched his previous best finish for the team. He followed this with a fourteenth-place finish at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix and an eleventh-place finish in Spain.
2021: Joining McLaren and Italian Grand Prix Victory
Daniel Ricciardo switched teams again in 2021, joining McLaren. He achieved his first and only victory with McLaren at the Italian Grand Prix, also securing a podium finish.
2021: Continued Success and "Drive to Survive" Fame
Following the 2021 Formula One season, Ricciardo's popularity continued to grow, fueled in part by his appearances on the Netflix docuseries "Drive to Survive."
2021: Joining McLaren and Early Season Races
In 2021, Daniel Ricciardo joined McLaren. His first race with the team was the Bahrain Grand Prix where he finished seventh. At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, he finished sixth. Despite starting sixteenth at the Portuguese Grand Prix, he managed to finish ninth.
2021: Italian Grand Prix Victory and Other Notable Performances
The 2021 Italian Grand Prix marked a significant victory for Daniel Ricciardo, securing his first win for McLaren and the team's first since 2012. He also achieved a fourth place finish at the Russian Grand Prix despite facing challenges during the race.
August 2022: Contract Termination and 2023 Announcement
In August 2022, McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo mutually agreed to terminate his contract a year early. Following this, Ricciardo announced he would not participate in the 2023 Formula One season.
2022: Early Season Performance and Challenges
The start of Daniel Ricciardo's 2022 season was met with challenges, including a positive COVID-19 test which caused him to miss the final pre-season test. Despite these setbacks, he secured a sixth place finish at the Australian Grand Prix.
2022: Member of the Order of Australia
In 2022, Daniel Ricciardo was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. This honor recognized his significant contributions to motorsport as both a competitor and ambassador, as well as his community involvement.
2022: Appointed Member of the Order of Australia
In recognition of his contributions to motorsport, Daniel Ricciardo was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2022 Australia Day Honours. He also left McLaren and became the third driver for Red Bull Racing.
2022: Departure from McLaren and Return to Red Bull Racing
In 2022, Daniel Ricciardo left McLaren and rejoined Red Bull Racing as a third driver.
2022: Criticism and Performance Struggles
In 2022, Daniel Ricciardo faced criticism regarding his performance compared to his teammate. This followed a series of races where he struggled to secure points, including the Spanish Grand Prix and the Canadian Grand Prix. Despite this, he managed to finish eighth in Azerbaijan.
July 2023: Return to Formula One with AlphaTauri
In July 2023, Daniel Ricciardo returned to Formula One, replacing Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri. He participated in the Hungarian Grand Prix, finishing 13th. In the Belgian Grand Prix, he qualified 19th in the main race and 11th in the sprint shootout, ultimately finishing 10th in the sprint and 16th in the main race.
2023: Joining AlphaTauri
After 10 races as Red Bull's third driver, Ricciardo replaced Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri on loan from Red Bull Racing in 2023.
2023: Third Driver Role and Pirelli Test Driver
As a third driver for Red Bull Racing in 2023, Ricciardo engaged in PR activities, simulator work, factory support, and race weekend assistance. He also participated as a Pirelli test driver, driving the Red Bull RB19 at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix.
2023: Absence from Formula One Grid
Daniel Ricciardo will not be participating in the 2023 Formula One season.
2024: Racing for RB Formula One Team
Ricciardo continued to race for AlphaTauri in 2024, as the team changed its name to RB Formula One Team.
2024: Driving For Rebranded AlphaTauri (RB Formula One Team)
Ricciardo continued with the team, now rebranded as RB Formula One Team, for the 2024 season. He experienced mixed results in the first three races, with a 13th place finish in Bahrain, a disappointing 16th place in Saudi Arabia after spinning out, and a 12th place finish in Australia after starting 18th.