Past AMSF Funded driver Daniel Ricciardo has been rewarded with a reserve drive at Red Bull.
Source: Speedcafe Australia has another FORMULA 1™ driver. AMSF Past Funded driver and West Australian Daniel Ricciardo has been appointed Red Bull’s reserve driver, sharing the role with New Zealander Brendon Hartley. The pair will alternate on their reserve duties through the year, working closely with the Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso teams, sitting in on team meetings, take part in off-track activities and prepare to race should they be called up. Ricciardo said that he wasn’t sure if he was going to secure the role. “It’s very exciting. It was an email I was hoping for since the test in December, but I wasn’t sure whether it would come at all. So, a big relief, but also very satisfying,” he said. “This will be a very good introduction to F1 – even though I won’t be driving the car, just to sit in on the briefings and do what the drivers do on a weekend is a good way to start learning. It’s all exciting and I’ll be busy, even though I’m not driving.” Recently retired Red Bull driver David Coulthard filled the reserve role in the team last year. Both Ricciardo, 20, and Hartley, 20, have been a part of the Red Bull young driver program for a number of years. The pair was two of the outstanding participants in December’s rookie F1 tests at Jerez, Spain, where Ricciardo was the fastest of all testers from various teams. This is a massive boost for Ricciardo, following an outstanding 2009 where he won the prestigious British Formula 3 Championship. For more motorsport news, visit www.speedcafe.com.au.
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