Time will tell where this superb Australian racing driver ends up in 2019 and beyond . My tip is Scuderia Ferrari , if not for the fact that he brings some much needed vitality , excitement and a second generation Italian link to Italy ’ s , and one of the world ’ s , most famous brands .
- Paul Marinelli
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Time will tell where this superb Australian racing driver ends up in 2019 and beyond . My tip is Scuderia Ferrari , if not for the fact that he brings some much needed vitality , excitement and a second generation Italian link to Italy ’ s , and one of the world ’ s , most famous brands .
- Paul Marinelli
He is one of Formula One ’ s most gifted and exciting racers and he is from Western Australia . He is 28 years of age and brings an electric personality to what has become a painfully corporatised sport . He is Daniel Ricciardo and he is on the very top of the 2019 shopping lists of three of Formula One ’ s largest and most successful teams , while being a driver of wishful thinking for the rest .
Ricciardo has proven that he is nothing short of incredible behind the wheel . He has already performed more spectacular overtaking manoeuvres during his comparatively short career than the combined total of most of his rivals in Formula One . ( At last year ’ s British Grand Prix alone , he performed 13 successful overtaking moves !)
His skill , bravado , total confidence , world famous seven-mile-smile , coupled with his very likeable personality , make him a total standout in the world ’ s premier motor racing category . Ricciardo ’ s fan base in Europe and beyond are every bit as enthusiastic as his Australian army of fans .
Ricciardo ’ s racing contract with Austrian super team Red Bull Racing comes to an end at the conclusion of the 2018 season . So right now and over the next few months , the Western Australian and his management team will be courted by the best in the business , each making their best pitch to land the Aussie ’ s services for the next two , three or more years .
All conquering four time World Champion team AMG Mercedes , legendary Italian super team Scuderia Ferrari and Ricciardo ’ s current team , Red Bull Racing will be engaged in a major bidding war for the Australian . It has been a long time since this was the case for an Australian Formula One driver . While Mark Webber enjoyed a successful career , he was never in the position that Ricciardo now finds himself in .
It is a decision that many would think only provided major benefits no matter where he turns , particularly financially , but there are other factors that will no doubt play into his considerations .
Firstly , out of AMG Mercedes and Scuderia Ferrari there is one striking and unfortunate similarity for Ricciardo . No matter which one he selects , he will be the team ’ s number two driver .
12 CAPRICORN IGNITION JUNE 2018