With news that Australia’s own Toro Rosso reserve driver, Daniel Ricciardo, will make his Formula One debut at next weekend’s British Grand Prix with HRT (Hispania Racing Team), the question needs to be asked: are we about to see the arrival of Sebastian Vettel version 2.0?
Already the similarities between Ricciardo and the German reigning world champion are apparent.
The Australian had been rumoured to be lining up at a race meeting for Toro Rosso at some stage this season, just as Vettel did when he took over American Scott Speed’s seat midway through 2007.
Of course, we all know what happened next…
Vettel took the world by storm, going on to win his first grand prix the next season at Monza with the Red Bull junior team, before stepping up to the main outfit the following season. Two years later, he was world champion, and appears increasingly likely to repeat that feat this season.
Ricciardo wowed onlookers with his speed at last season’s end of year test at Abu Dhabi, and has continued to impress during his Friday practice running, along with his performances in Formula Renault 3.5, just as Vettel did prior to making his debut.
Current Toro Rosso drivers, Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari and Swiss Sebastian Buemi, can now relax a little, knowing that their seats are safe for the remainder of this season, at least.
But the likely outcome is that Aussie Ricciardo will gain some miles with HRT this season, before making a belated debut with Toro Rosso next year, with an eye on a move to Red Bull itself the following season.
This would be almost identical to Vettel’s route, save for the first half of a season
Everything so far indicates that as long as Ricciardo has the right machinery at his disposal, he will no doubt be a race, and in all likelihood, a championship winner.
It would be wishful thinking to expect him to achieve too much with the limited potential offered. With all due respect, it isn’t out of the question that he could be the first man to put the HRT car inside the top 20 (24 cars) during qualifying.
That, and outpacing talented Italian teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi, would go a long way to suggesting that Ricciardo is special.
In an age where testing miles are few and far between, the opportunity to take part in races, even if it is for a backmarker, rather than the sole practice session, is pure gold, and certainly Ricciardo will be better for the experience next season.
The Australian should also benefit from having experience in a car that is far from a world beater.
This is something which could separate Ricciardo and Vettel, the former will have a more worldly view of the sport having been at the back of the grid, just as two-time world champion Fernando Alonso did at Minardi in 2001.
If everything goes to plan, and he is every bit as good, or almost as good as Vettel, it isn’t out of the question that Ricciardo could find himself on the podium as early as next season, and on the top step of the podium the season after.
The thought of having two Australians on the grid is a nice prospect – it hasn’t happened since the late seventies, and it would be a perfect scenario for current Red Bull ace Mark Webber to move aside for countryman Ricciardo at the conclusion of 2012, if he does indeed choose to retire.
But that’s a while off yet; there’s plenty of racing between now and then. Let’s enjoy the arrival of Daniel Ricciardo, flying the Australian flag, and he will surely provide fans with plenty of entertainment.
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