2011: Formula 1 Debut with HRT
Daniel Ricciardo made his F1 debut at the British Grand Prix with HRT, replacing Narain Karthikeyan. Despite the team’s struggles, Ricciardo showed promise and progress throughout the season, leading to his promotion to Toro Rosso for 2012.
2012-2013: Toro Rosso
In 2012, Ricciardo quickly demonstrated the potential of the Toro Rosso STR7, scoring points in his home race in Melbourne. However, the team faced a tough midfield battle, and Ricciardo only scored points again after 11 races. With James Key’s arrival, Ricciardo’s performance improved in the season’s second half, culminating in a ninth-place finish in Korea despite starting from 21st due to a gearbox issue.
In 2013, Ricciardo outperformed teammate Jean-Eric Vergne, particularly in qualifying, though the car remained uncompetitive. His consistent performances earned him a promotion to Red Bull when Mark Webber retired.
2014-2018: Red Bull
Ricciardo joined Red Bull as they began losing their championship edge to Mercedes. Despite this, he secured Red Bull’s three victories in 2014, outperforming teammate Sebastian Vettel. Notable wins included Canada, Hungary, and Belgium, leading to a third-place finish in the championship and becoming the team’s lead driver after Vettel’s departure to Ferrari.
In 2015, Ricciardo faced engine reliability issues but still managed two podium finishes, including a notable second place in Singapore. The 2016 season saw Ricciardo finish third in the championship, with a key win in Malaysia following Lewis Hamilton’s engine failure.
In 2017, Ferrari’s resurgence relegated Red Bull to third-best, but Ricciardo’s consistent podium finishes, including a dramatic win in Baku, kept him competitive. However, Verstappen’s late-season form and three technical failures for Ricciardo dropped him to fifth in the standings.
Ricciardo started 2018 strong with two wins in the first six races, but tensions rose after a collision with Verstappen in Azerbaijan. As Verstappen extended his contract, Ricciardo’s future with the team became uncertain, leading to his move to Renault for 2019.
2019-2020: Renault
Ricciardo’s switch to Renault did not yield the desired results, as the team slipped to fifth place in the standings. His best result came at Monza with a fourth-place finish. The 2020 season, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, saw Ricciardo decide to leave Renault for McLaren in 2021 after Vettel’s departure from Ferrari.
2021-2022: McLaren
Ricciardo’s highlight with McLaren was winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, McLaren’s first victory since 2012. Despite scoring consistently, he struggled to adapt to the car and was outperformed by teammate Lando Norris. The overhaul of F1’s technical regulations in 2022 exacerbated these struggles, leading to a significant points gap between him and Norris. Mid-season, McLaren decided to replace Ricciardo with Oscar Piastri for 2023.
2023: AlphaTauri
In late 2022, Ricciardo began talks with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and was hired as the team’s test and reserve driver for 2023. His simulator sessions convinced the team of his potential return to racing. With Sergio Perez underperforming and dissatisfaction with Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri, Ricciardo replaced de Vries mid-season, starting from the Hungarian Grand Prix.
