F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Ricciardo boasts he 'transformed overtaking in F1'

Ahead of his final race for Red Bull Racing this weekend, Daniel Ricciardo has claimed that his performance with the team in 2014 overturned expectations about what was possible in the sport.

During his first season at Red Bull, Ricciardo established a reputation for being the master of overtaking. He pulled off spectacular moves on rivals that no one else dared even try as he went on to record three wins - even upstaging his team mate then-reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel.

“That’s the year I look back at being the most fun for me and the most important for my career since,” said Ricciardo in his latest - and probably last - diary piece for the team. “The wins were big."

Ricciardo's exciting style was to use late-braking to close up on the car ahead when they weren't expecting it, and didin't have time to react.

“Not many people were doing that, coming from a long way back and trying big passing moves," he said, recalling a particularly epic duel with then-Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso.

"I had a massive battle with Fernando in Germany where we raced really hard but fair," he recalled. "He had some praise for me afterwards which was big at the time."

The fact that this style of passing on track is more common now - with current team mate Max Verstappen arguably taking the Aussie's mantle as the best overtaker in the business - offers Ricciardo confirmation that he has made a lasting impact in the sport.

“I feel ’14 didn’t just shape me and my approach from then on, it changed the level of overtaking from other guys in the sport as well," he opined.

“Maybe they learned from me and the way I was racing," he continued. "Perhaps I set a new level and showed people what was possible, and the drivers that were willing to try it were trying it.

“I realise that sounds a bit cocky, but I really do believe that," he insisted. “I’m not saying all of them can do it, but at least more of them are trying!”

©RedBullRacing

After five seasons at Milton Keynes, Ricciardo bids farewell to Red Bull after this weekend. He's heading to Enstone where he will be driving alongside Nico Hulkenberg in the Renault works team line-up in 2019.

"This weekend I am trying to finish on a high with the team," he said. "I know this car now is probably going to be better then the Renault I will have in Melbourne next year, so I will just try and make the most of that."

Ricciardo also revealed a new fresh-faced look for the weekend after having a close shave in preparation, losing his beard but keeping a moustache in support of the Movember men’s health awareness campaign.

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.

Recent Posts

Alpine double-podium in Brazil could deliver $30 million windfall

Alpine’s remarkable double podium at the São Paulo Grand Prix with Esteban Ocon and Pierre…

12 hours ago

F1i's Driver Ratings for the 2024 São Paulo GP

Alexander Albon, Williams (Did Not Start): 5.5/10 Alex Albon is definitely going through something of…

14 hours ago

Jos Verstappen rips British media after Brazilian Max fest

Jos Verstappen wasted no time after his son spectacular win at the São Paulo Grand…

15 hours ago

Leclerc left with ‘mixed feelings’ after disappointing Sao Paulo GP

Charles Leclerc's weekend in Sao Paulo was unfortunately a stark contrast to Ferrari's recent triumphs…

17 hours ago

Back when Kimi knew exactly what he was doing

Twelve years ago on this day, Kimi Raikkonen took a popular win at the 2012…

18 hours ago

Mercedes fined for starting grid tyre pressure infringement

The Mercedes team was hit with a fine by the FIA after Sunday’s Sao Paulo…

19 hours ago