Australian favourite Daniel Ricciardo is out of a Formula 1 drive following his confirmed departure from Visa Cash App RB F1 Team.
Ricciardo’s career spanned 258 races consisting of eight wins, 32 podiums and three pole positions, the West Australian has produced some amazing performances.
Beginning his career in 2011 at the back marker team HRT Formula 1 Team, Ricciardo made the step-up to Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2012 where he impressed enough to be elevated to the championship winning Red Bull Racing squad in 2014.
It was a supreme maiden season with Red Bull as Ricciardo took three wins to finish third in the title.
Leaving Red Bull for Renault in 2019 proved an inspired move to take the team leader role, however leaving for McLaren in 2021 led to a disappointing period although he took his last win.
Returning to what was Toro Rosso now Visa Cash App RB F1 Team in what was a slump for the squad as Ricciardo was unable to be a consistent points finisher.
Check out the Repco Garage’s top five Ricciardo performances below.
- Monaco 2018
A tale of redemption. Making up for two years prior when the Red Bull Racing crew made a rare mistake during Ricciardo’s stop losing a certain victory, 2018 ensured a third Australian took victory in the principality. Taking pole position and dominating the early part of the race, a power loss of 25% due to a unit fault added a high degree of difficulty. Ricciardo held off Sebastian Vettel masterfully to score an unlikely victory.
- Canada 2014
The champagne tasted sweet for Ricciardo in Canada when he scored his maiden victory in what was a season Red Bull racing struggled after four consecutive championships. Mechanical problems may have struck down the now leading Mercedes duo, but Ricciardo had to make moves from sixth on the grid passing Sergio Pérez for second and Nico Rosberg for the lead in the closing stages to score his maiden victory.
- Hungary 2014
Not long after first taking victory in Canada, Ricciardo doubled up in Hungary as plenty was thrown up during the race including weather changes, tyre strategy and safety cars. In a battle with Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, Ricciardo passed both in the closing stages in his trademark bold style under brakes. This victory cemented Ricciardo’s place as one of Formula 1’s top drivers.
- China 2018
Ricciardo’s win in China came after an engine failure in final practice, which nearly forced him to miss qualifying. The Red Bull Racing squad completed the engine change in record time as Ricciardo qualified sixth. Ferrari and Mercedes battled at the top until a safety car following an incident between the two Toro Rossos was called. A switch to soft tyres under this safety car period proved crucial as Ricciardo charged through in his customary style to take the win. Ricciardo said this famous quote post-race, “Sometimes you’ve just got to lick the stamp and send it’.
- Emilia Romagna 2020
Having already announced his move to McLaren before the 2020 Formula 1 season restarted due to the global pandemic. However, despite this announcement Ricciardo found form when he finished fourth at Mugello and scored a podium in the Eifel Grand Prix held at the Nurburgring. But, three weeks later it was a Ricciardo clinic as he scored his second podium on the trot.