Daniel Riccardo: Driver of his generation?
Discussion
Joffery666 said:
With all this talk about the Mercedes team, Let's not forget what Daniel, a newcomer to the team, is doing to the apparent 4 times wc.
^From the hungarian GP thread, soon to be lost to a sea of generic argument of hamilton hangups, but it reflected what I've been thinking so I thought this deserved it's own space.Last year he looked a good but perhaps journeyman driver, to the point many considered red bull were playing it safe so as not to upset the star child vettel. But he turned out to be a bloody smiling assassin, it seems he can do no wrong, and theres no talent he does not have...
- Toe to toe with the greatest duellers hamilton/alonso etc and has held his own every time.
- Has an tactical mind/situational awareness I can only recall seeing in alonso and schu. He knows early on how things might pan out and isn't afraid to tell the team what strategy might work ("If theres some action going down I want to be a part of it")
- Seems amazingly well grounded, come rain or sine, keeps smiling and seems to lack the emotional baggage of many (most) drivers
- Takes no s
t off anyone but smiles and acts nice enough to get away with it - His wins & results have come about by virtue of allways being there or thereabouts, always lurking, getting more out the car than you might expect
I think that today was the day everybody woke up to his talents.
I really liked the way that he just sat back and waited for those in front to pit, or for them to wear out their tyres. Why risk an unneccessary pass? Then, when it became obvious that they weren't going to pit, he made the moves and passed two ex-World Champions like they were rookies.
The mark of the smiling assassin is to bide your time and strike when the opponent is weak.
I don't think that's the last time we will hear "Australia Fair".
I really liked the way that he just sat back and waited for those in front to pit, or for them to wear out their tyres. Why risk an unneccessary pass? Then, when it became obvious that they weren't going to pit, he made the moves and passed two ex-World Champions like they were rookies.
The mark of the smiling assassin is to bide your time and strike when the opponent is weak.
I don't think that's the last time we will hear "Australia Fair".
pingu393 said:
I think that today was the day everybody woke up to his talents.
I really liked the way that he just sat back and waited for those in front to pit, or for them to wear out their tyres. Why risk an unneccessary pass? Then, when it became obvious that they weren't going to pit, he made the moves and passed two ex-World Champions like they were rookies.
The mark of the smiling assassin is to bide your time and strike when the opponent is weak.
I don't think that's the last time we will hear "Australia Fair".
Yeah I've been pondering the last few races now, he's been a bit of a slow burner but you've encapsulated what I was trying to blubber out very well, he seems to have the speed of the hungry youth he is with the racecraft of the experienced and the foresight of the wise.I really liked the way that he just sat back and waited for those in front to pit, or for them to wear out their tyres. Why risk an unneccessary pass? Then, when it became obvious that they weren't going to pit, he made the moves and passed two ex-World Champions like they were rookies.
The mark of the smiling assassin is to bide your time and strike when the opponent is weak.
I don't think that's the last time we will hear "Australia Fair".
The Vambo said:
hairyben said:
Vettel, for all his silverware, has never shown the range of skill or tools in the toolbox that ricciardo has already demonstrated though.
That is only true if you only just started watching F1 this season. Otherwise it is just revisionist nonsense.Ricciardo has made it ok for me to support Red Bull this year. He comes across as a decent guy, he can handle himself with the likes of Alonso and Hamilton, he's ahead of his 4 time champion team mate, he's third in the championship behind the Mercs, and he's the only one outside the Mercs to win races this year.
He'll be a champ IMO. There have been drivers who one one off races before and ended up being tools (Spain 2012
), but I do think Ricciardo is the real deal.
He'll be a champ IMO. There have been drivers who one one off races before and ended up being tools (Spain 2012
), but I do think Ricciardo is the real deal.Edited by ajprice on Sunday 27th July 18:37
hairyben said:
Care to counter with something tangible, such as where you feel ricciardo is weak then?
I think maybe you are a little emotionally attached, therefore over protective of Ricciardo.If you read what I said, I said he was a very good driver and a top prospect, one half of a season is entirely too early to call him anything other than a prospect.
In the 20 years I have watched F1 there have been too many one season wonders to count.
Where I disagreed is when you suggest Vettel "has never shown the range of skill or tools in the toolbox that ricciardo has already demonstrated".
This is nonsense, he has proven to be a top driver over a long period and one half season doesn't change that.
I agree Ricciardo is showing himself to be a really handy driver, his wheel to wheel racing is sublime and he keeps his cool massively. Get him in equal tools to the Merc and give him a decent shot at a WDC.
I think his like ability will help him too, popular with fans/sponsors, nice and grounded too.
I think his like ability will help him too, popular with fans/sponsors, nice and grounded too.
David Coulthard said he was a future wdc, there is no doubt as he has all the qualities. The big but is if he gets a world class car, as this year the Red Bull is not up to the job and does not suit Vettle as well as Riccardo has it working for him.
What is really good is win or lose he never stops smiling, never says a bad word, I really hope he gets a great car to work with.
What is really good is win or lose he never stops smiling, never says a bad word, I really hope he gets a great car to work with.
Makes you wonder how much is the driver and how much the car. Ricciardo never particularly impressed in the Torro Rosso but has shone in the better Red Bull. How many other drivers would excel if given a drive in a top car? And how many of the lauded, pampered superstar drivers would fade into oblivion if given a Sauber (et al) to drive?
Unlike many, Ricciardo comes across as a genuine, down to earth guy, I'm pleased for him.
Unlike many, Ricciardo comes across as a genuine, down to earth guy, I'm pleased for him.
The Vambo said:
That is only true if you only just started watching F1 this season. Otherwise it is just revisionist nonsense.
This. DR has done a great job so far and made some great moves. However that doesn't make him driver of his generation. Yes he is beating his team mate (who has had some bad luck and is struggling), but this is his first year at Redbull and due to the dominance of Merc there are no real expectations or pressure as the championship is basically dead. It is a lot easier to pull these great moves off when you have nothing to lose. So lets see how he goes over the full season and when it really matters.
Also the hate for Vettel on here is strong, people have been waiting to put the boot in and this is their chance. However I believe despite his 4 WDC he is underrated and will bounce back stronger than ever. Half a bad season doesn't wipe out all previous achievements and mean a driver is crap.... ditto for Raikkonen actually.
DR/Alonso/Hamilton all had great drives today but were massively benefited by the safety cars which really shafted Ros/Vet/Bottas.
vonuber said:
hairyben said:
Vettel, for all his silverware, has never shown the range of skill or tools in the toolbox that ricciardo has already demonstrated though.
How about driving that badly damaged Redbull in Brazil to win the WDC?Riccardo has some fantastic race craft tho, which is great to see, a lot sweeter than the punt it down the inside tactics of some... The doubles and feints have been splendid, and really shown he can race.
But time will tell, he's very likeable which helps, as was Vettel at the start of his 4 WDC run... We all love an underdog eh?
But time will tell, he's very likeable which helps, as was Vettel at the start of his 4 WDC run... We all love an underdog eh?
The same was said of Vettel about what nice guy he was, how polite he was with the media.
I've always had an inkling it was too good to be true and it came out in Malaysia last year (not that I have anything against it)
Wait till Dan has to fight for WDC and how much of a nice guy he really is. Perhaps there might come a time of being sick of seee Dan's pearly whites.
I've always had an inkling it was too good to be true and it came out in Malaysia last year (not that I have anything against it)
Wait till Dan has to fight for WDC and how much of a nice guy he really is. Perhaps there might come a time of being sick of seee Dan's pearly whites.
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