Daniel Ricciardo secures Formula One seat

Fantastic news for Australian F1 fans with confirmation Daniel Ricciardo has landed an F1 race seat with Hispania Racing Team for the rest of 2011.

It’s expected Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan will make way for Ricciardo at HRT under a new agreement struck between the Spanish team and Red Bull. This will allow Red Bull to compare Ricciardo to Vitantonio Liuzzi who has driven for both Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing in the past.

So far in 2011 Ricciardo has experienced F1 seat time in all Friday practice sessions for Toro Rosso. In the eight events completed the young West Australian, and 2009 British Formula 3 champ, has impressed to the point recent speculation has been rife Ricciardo might have displaced current Toro Rosso drivers Sebatien Buemi or Jaime Algeusuari before the year was out. Those two can rest easy, for now.

Ricciardo, who turns 22 today (1 July), is expected to have 10 races with HRT, starting with next weekend’s British Grand Prix, to establish his reputation in motorsport’s elite category. Assuming he performs well, it is thought he will get a drive with Toro Rosso or even Red Bull Racing in 2012.

Note: There are 11 F1 races remaining this year and it is understood Karthikeyan will be allowed to race in the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in late October.

The 2011 British Grand Prix is now shaping to be the first time two Australians have made an F1 starting grid since Alan Jones (Shadow-Ford) and Vern Schuppan (Surtees-Ford) started the 1977 Austrian GP. Incidentally, that race was Alan Jones’ maiden Grand Prix win.

The official announcement from HRT can be read below.

Ricciardo drives for Hispania Racing

Madrid, 30th of June of 2011

Hispania Racing and Red Bull Racing signed a collaboration deal today which allows young Australian talent Daniel Ricciardo to join the Spanish team as its official driver.

The current Formula 1 World Champion team has shown trust in Hispania Racing’s project and has chosen José Ramón Carabante’s team as a support for the formation and development of its driver.

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo, who was behind the steering-wheel in every first practice session of the eight grand prix up to now, will finally see his dream come true and become a Formula 1 race-driver starting from next week’s British Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo joins Narain Karthikeyan and Vitantonio Liuzzi as official drivers of the Spanish Formula 1 team, Hispania Racing.

José Ramón Carabante, Chairman of Hispania Racing: “This agreement is a reward for all the hard work Hispania Racing has shown since we started in Formula 1 last year. We’re proud that the Formula 1 World Champion team has trusted us in their effort of developing their drivers. Let’s hope that this is just the start of a fruitful relationship”.

Colin Kolles, Hispania Racing Team Principal: “I’m happy to welcome Daniel to the team; I’m glad the Team managed to conclude this deal together with Dr. Helmut Marko who deserves my personal respect”.

Daniel Ricciardo: “It’s a dream come true for me – for the first time on an F1 starting grid! I had to pinch myself a couple of times to be sure that it’s real. I’m excited and can hardly wait to drive at Silverstone. It’s a new challenge, a new experience, a new team, but I’m ready and will give of my best in any event”.

DANIEL RICCIARDO

• Born on the 1st of July of 1989 in Perth, Australia.
• In 2008 he won his first title as a driver when he claimed the Formula Renault 2.0 Western European Cup. In 2009 he moved on to British Formula Three, driving for British outfit Carlin Motorsport. He would win this championship by 87 points.
• From there he went to Formula Renault 3.5 where he raced for Tech 1. In the 2010 championship he finished only two points off the title which was won by Russian driver, Mikhail Aleshin.
• In 2011, after testing for Red Bull Racing at the young drivers tests in Abu Dhabi, he was named as third driver for Scuderia Toro Rosso.