The driver line-ups in 2014’s Formula One season greatly differ from those we saw in 2013. Some of the moves have been outstandingly successful, while others could be considered a step backwards.
Many drivers have reaped the benefits from a change of colours. Nico Hulkenberg’s move to Force India has helped him avoid Sauber’s abysmal first half of the season. Felipe Massa’s shift to Williams has taken him back into a car that can score him podiums.
But has there been a better move for a driver than Daniel Riccardo?
His graduation from the junior Toro Rosso outfit into the big boys’ Red Bull car has shown the world what he is truly capable of – great maturity behind the wheel of his car.
Watching Ricciardo drive is like watching a tutorial for how to drive in a range of situations. His two victories in Formula One this season have been aided by good strategic calls from the team in Canada and Hungary, as well as a bit of race day luck.
However, a driver can have all the luck in the world, but it requires execution behind the wheel at the right moment to win a race.
Riccardo has done this twice at critical moments to snatch a race win. His courageous Lap 67 move around the outside of Sergio Perez at turn one in Montreal was the move of a man with supreme confidence in his car.
He exerted such control again with his equally daring move past a Lewis Hamilton-operated Mercedes at the Hungaroring’s tricky turn two, with only four laps remaining.
While both of these moves put him in position to seize the race lead, as he did on both occasions with some assertive passes on a Mercedes and a Ferrari respectively, it was the build-up to these moves that let him win the races.
There was an element of luck for Ricciardo in these wins, with Mercedes being forced to run with a technical problem in Canada, and wet weather and safety cars playing a part in the Hungarian race.
But what was pleasing to see from Ricciardo was that at no point did he panic in the cockpit.
He very much drives his own race, and does not conform to other drivers’ strategies or styles. The gentle management of his tyres in Hungary was superb, and yet throughout the race he was able to open up a gap with some clear track.
Come crunch time, he was able to punch the loud pedal and reel in the race leaders.
Even when confronted with technical difficulties, he stayed calm and relayed the message to the pit crew. The problem was fixed, allowing him to carry on at his own pace before showing his flair and ‘zing’ in the closing stages of the race.
Unfortunately, his car’s qualifying pace has been down this year on that of the leaders, though that seems to be more to do with the RB10 than his individual efforts, so we are yet to see how Ricciardo deals with the pressure of trying to lead a race from start to finish.
This is a very different approach to driving from the way Red Bull has had to attack from further back on the grid in their races thus far this season.
However, we have seen Ricciardo hold position very well this season on a number of occasions. His exhausted tyres at Silverstone held off Jenson Button for a podium finish. He stayed out of trouble on the tight streets of Monaco to take another third place.
His infamous disqualification in Australia from second place was a strong drive in a car many thought would be lucky to make the chequered flag. But he started from second and held station throughout the race in a strong display of his ability to command and control a position.
So while Ricciardo may not have taken a dominant victory yet in Formula 1, it’s clear he has the skills to do so should they be required.
The all round skill set he possesses that makes Ricciardo’s race strategy so dangerous to his competitors. Multiple methods for winning races make him more adept at taking victories, particularly when the odds are stacked against him.
A range of skills are exactly what’s needed in the modern Formula One World Championship. Daniel Ricciardo has everything he needs in his own toolbox, including a garage full of promise. Now he just needs the team to back him up on a consistent basis.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Gift wrapped wins? So because Vettel could get on pole it disregards his race victory? What nonsense... Vettel, like Schumacher before him, is so good the FIA had to change the regulations to give everyone else a chance to beat him.
Distant Knight
Guest
4 time world champion, yes. Legend / all time great, no! I'll change my opinion if he ever even gets close to another title. He's a great front runner, but I'm yet to be convinced of his racing ability. The whining on the team radio during his battle with Alonso at Silverstone was just embarrassing. Compare that to the way Dan has conducted himself during some of his more intense moments this year, and I think it's obvious which of them is happy to back their racing ability, and which one thinks the wins should continue to be gift wrapped for them...
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Daniel Ricciardo is in the 4th season in F1. If you have no knowledge of that sport, don't bother replying to my posts. Vettel = legend, superstar and all time great. Live with it.
Dime a Dozen
Guest
All those records mean nothing if he can't replicate those results in another car or for another team. In a sport where the equipment can play a bigger part in victory then the participants skills, it only take a competent driver to win when your got the fastest car, not a great one. "Vettel has never driven a car without the double diffuser whilst at Red Bull. So naturally his driving style was based around the 2009-14 regulations. " And yet if he was a driver of the caliber you claim him to be, shouldn't he be able to adapt quickly? "Whereas Ricciardo never had the opportunity to have the advanced double diffuser that Red Bull used. Therefore Ricciardo’s not had to adapt his driving style. " Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't Ricciardo only started driving F1 cars this year? How bad does that make Vettle look when a rookie, new to this type of car racing, can beat the four times world champion who's only got new car specifications to deal with, not a whole new genre of vehicle? "Legacy is rock solid." But its only the present that matters. Sorry, but I really do think Vettle is overrated and now that's being found out all the excuses under the sun can't hide the fact that it was mostly the car, and not him, that won him those F1 world championships.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
I personally don't disagree with that, but there are others who do and even some pundits believe that he should go and experience success elsewhere.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
I personally don't disagree with that, but there are others who do and even some pundits believe that he should go and experience success elsewhere.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Providing Renault sort of their power unit problems. I'd expect Vettel to be 5 time world champion by the end of 2015...
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Sorry Vettel's already one of the greatest drivers of all time. Youngest world champion Youngest double world champion Youngest triple world champion Youngest quadruple world champion. Only man to win first 3, then 4, world championships back to back. Legacy is rock solid.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
It'll certainly be a test for Sebastian's legacy as one of the greatest drivers to have ever competed, if he does or does not succeed with the new regulations. Either that or if he's successful with another team, then only he earn a little respect fro his current cynics.
Johnny jac
Guest
Is ricciardo the anti or should I say pro nark webber?
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Vettel has never driven a car without the double diffuser whilst at Red Bull. So naturally his driving style was based around the 2009-14 regulations. Whereas Ricciardo never had the opportunity to have the advanced double diffuser that Red Bull used. Therefore Ricciardo's not had to adapt his driving style. 2014 for Vettel isn't to dissimilar to Schumacher in 2005. Years of domination. FIA changed the regs to stop him winning. Vettel will be back in 2015. He's too damn good not to.
Alex
Guest
I don't disagree, that Williams has been surprisingly quick this season however the question was asking about equal machinery and I haven't seen enough him to include him in a top drivers list.
sennaQLD
Guest
Well hes gone way better than i thought.He has put a big smile on all his old kart mates at the TIGER KART CLUB.I thought SEB would flog him for 6 months.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Valtteri Bottas has performed slightly better than Sebastian so far this year, to be honest.
Alex
Guest
Probably around 4th or 5th. Might be Hamilton, Alonso, Vettel, Ricciardo, Rosberg. Definitely Vettel in 3rd Hamilton and Alonso are arguable and Ricciardo and Rosberg probably interchangeable
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
He is certainly climbing his way up that list of 'theoretical best drivers' as you say. If you ask me, this year so far I'd put him in my top five best drivers, based off his ability and performances. Also, great article Miles. Dan is certainly putting his name down as a future champion, but let's not get too carried away. If Red Bull in 2015 or 2016 have a chassis and power-unit to better that of Mercedes AMG then he will certainly be in contention to beat the likes of Alonso, Hamilton and Vettel if they're all still around. Beating those champions to win his own championship will certainly cement his name amongst modern day, F1 royalty.
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
I too have been very impressed by Ricciardo's talents, especially now he has a platform on which to showcase them more fully in the "big Red Bull". It seems he has very quickly gone up the list of best drivers in the field (not talking about standings, but underlying ability). One of the age old questions of course is who is "theoretically" the best driver, assuming machinery, etc. was constant. For a number of years now I've thought Alonso to probably be the best driver, largely based on his high overall results and the difference in his results against team mates. I wonder how the current list would play out in this "theoretical sense"? Where would Ricciardo sit? Any thoughts out there?