Daniel Ricciardo's Resurgence in Formula 1

During the 2022 summer break, Daniel Ricciardo announced that he would be leaving McLaren at the end of the year, leaving him without a seat for 2023. The Australian, who made his Formula 1 debut in 2011 with HRT, has daniel ricciardo funny moments become one of the most beloved drivers, known for his funny personality and big smile. With speculation surrounding his future in Formula 1, Daniel Ricciardo remembers some of the best moments from his career to date.

The retirement signal of Daniel Ricciardo at the Singapore Grand Prix was one of the sentimental moments in the circuit, as he was ready to bid his F1 friends and fans goodbyes. Ricciardo is famous for his charm and skill; his last racing weekend was special for him partially because of his conversations with an Australian compatriot, Oscar Piastri. This was the end of an era for Formula One having to bid farewell to a remarkable driver like Ricciardo.
The most memorable moment of the race came when the Honey Badger passed three drivers in a single turn to move from sixth to third during the closing stages of the race. Known as an extremely late breaker and master overtaker, it was races like Azerbaijan 2017 that earned Ricciardo that reputation. The 2012 Australian Grand Prix wasn’t Ricciardo’s F1 debut (he had an unremarkable 11-race stint with HRT the year prior, finishing no higher than 18th in any outing), but it was his first entry at his home grand prix. In front of a home crowd that was still largely focused on another Australian in Mark Webber, Ricciardo proved he was the real deal.

It was in 2014 when Ricciardo truly established himself as a force to be reckoned with in Formula One. Driving for Red Bull Racing, he secured three race victories, including a memorable win at the Canadian Grand Prix. His ability to maintain composure under pressure, even in challenging circumstances, has earned him widespread respect and admiration within the racing community. In 2019, Ricciardo made the move to Renault, aiming to challenge himself further and help the team achieve greater success. This transition showcased his ambition and determination to succeed in a highly competitive environment.
However, he would charge back to the top 10 in a matter of laps, and sat fifth at the time of the red flag. Following the restart, Ricciardo made a sensational three-car overtake that moved him to third place, sitting behind Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. However, Vettel was due to serve a stop/go penalty while Hamilton pitted due to a loose headrest, promoting Ricciardo into the lead. He would then cross the line and win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, four seconds ahead of Bottas.

The Australian was running in eighth just before the end of the race when he spotted Norris, slow due to a hydraulics issue, and pushed for seventh. Despite the challenging start to the 2024 season, Ricciardo's optimism for the Australian Grand Prix shines through. Missing the event last year has only fuelled his eagerness to compete on home soil, hoping to mark the beginning of a turnaround in his season. Picturing myself on the top step of an F1 podium – I had visualised that feeling since I was a kid. Five seasons of chaos and we’re sure to get even more of it when the sixth instalment premieres on 23 February - the last day of Formula 1’s 2024 pre-season test in Bahrain.
On lap 60 he picked up a set of softs and ripped off a time that will sit in a history book somewhere, listed under Norris' third-ever grand prix win. Ricciardo's lap, at 1'34.486, was nearly a half-second faster than the then-standing fastest lap set by Norris. It's an apples-to-oranges comparison, certainly, given Norris never touched softs — nor did second-place finisher Max Verstappen, whose fastest was nearly 1.5 seconds slower than Ricciardo's. Daniel Ricciardo is a race-car driver who debuted in Formula One in 2011 and became Australia’s most successful competitor in the sport in the mid-2010s. He had reached the podium in Grand Prix events 32 times during his career, eight of them being first-place finishes, by the time he was released by the team RB during the 2024 season.
Ricciardo, an accomplished Formula One driver, understands that self-belief is the foundation upon which success is built. Believing in one's abilities and potential is vital in overcoming challenges and pushing oneself to new heights. However, true success is not achieved solely through belief, but it also requires relentless determination and the refusal to give up when faced with obstacles. Ricciardo's words inspire individuals to cultivate a resilient mindset and to persevere even in the face of adversity to attain their goals. In a single thought, Daniel Ricciardo encapsulates the delicate balance between caution and risk-taking that defines success in life.

However, his run of mechanical retirements hit him on lap 9, pulling over with a battery failure. Ricciardo stood on the podium in third place at the Belgian Grand Prix, having made up a place on Bottas during the second safety car restart from sixth on the grid. However the next race in Italy forced Ricciardo to take additional power unit elements, which necessitated a 20-place grid penalty. Making yet another drive through the field, Ricciardo performed spectacular overtakes to end in fourth place. In Singapore, from third, He would inherit second at the start after a multi-car shunt, which was where he would finish.
Lawson, a RB reserve driver, appeared in five races a season ago after Ricciardo suffered a wrist injury ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix. Ricciardo’s fun-loving personality and natural penchant for cracking jokes made him one of the breakout stars of Netflix’s docuseries Drive to Survive. Folks who tuned into the show during the COVID-19 pandemic were swept up by the glitz and glamor of this multimillion-dollar sport—but personalities like Ricciardo’s were critical in grounding fans. The view from a driver’s Monaco apartment might be enticing, but Daniel Ricciardo singing to himself in his car or cracking jokes to the producers provided a critical humanizing element that gave new fans something to latch onto. With two races down, the next test for driver and team will be the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, a tight, twisty venue that brings a completely different set of characteristics to the Spa-Francorchamps track raced on last time out. He also opened the door for millions of new fans to the sport and was the spark that propelled the worldwide growth of F1 through the vehicle that is Drive to Survive.

Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesQualifying has seldom been where Ricciardo thrives the most in Formula 1 cars and only has three pole positions to his name. Each of his pole positions also came during the Australian’s time at Red Bull, with a maiden P1 start in 2016 and two  further pole positions during 2018. Daniel Ricciardo may have raced his last Grand Prix after being dropped by Visa Cash App RB, so F1 Oversteer takes a look at the best moments of his career in Formula 1. While Ricciardo was undeterred by the prospect of drinking from a post-race boot, those who he got involved in the process often seemed less keen. Fellow drivers, team bosses and even celebrity guests – including actors Gerard Butler and Sir Patrick Stewart – have all found themselves being cajoled into a shoey by the Australian.