DR3 Is Back “Home” With Red Bull Racing for 2023.
Australian Formula One driver and Grand Prix winner, Daniel Ricciardo, made a thrilling return to the Oracle Red Bull Racing cockpit ahead of the upcoming Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. To get a feel for the unique conditions of his home country, Ricciardo took the championship-winning RB7 F1 car on a road trip across some of Australia’s most challenging terrains. The trip was aimed at mastering the harsh conditions and gaining an edge over their competitors.
Oracle Red Bull Racing sent Ricciardo on an off-track road trip across Australia to master the uniquely Australian conditions, from the beaches to the outback. The RB7 Road Trip navigated through iconic Australian locations, from Broken Hill to Sea Cliff Bridge, all the way to the home of Australian Supercars in Bathurst.
As Ricciardo is set to make his first on track appearance this season, Action Sports Today sat down with Danny Ric to talk about this season on and off the track.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 30: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Oracle Red Bull Racing poses for a photo in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on March 30, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202303300157 // Usage for editorial use only //
DR: I feel really really good at the moment. Having the time off has been good for my body and my mental health to be a little more chill. Melbourne is the first race that I will be in attendance this season so I am not sure how much the desire to be in the car will change when I get to the track. But for me, I am content with where I am as a driver on and off the track.
AST: You launched the RB19 in New York City this year rather than home in the United Kingdom where the team is based. How does this show the importance of F1 in the United States and how Oracle Red Bull Racing is looking towards the future and new markets rather than maintaining the status quo?
DR: Launching the car in the States is a big statement. Basically, what is being said is that we are acknowledging where the sport is as a whole and where the sport is growing at a rapid pace. The Drive to Survive series sped up the growth in the States to the point that there are the three races there this season. 11 years ago, we did not even have one U.S. race and now we have three. For me personally it is fantastic. I really enjoy my time in the States. I love the cities that host the races, and it is big business out here. I love American sports. The game or race is only a small part of the event. The States know how to create a massive experience around the event and having that same energy to build a cultural experience around each race will do the sport justice.
AST: When you first found out that McClaren was going to go in a different direction that did not include you, when did the possibility of reuniting with your former team enter your mind?
DR: In the beginning, there was a small sense of panic and the need to know what is next. Sometimes the change can catch you off guard. There was a bit of a frenzy for me personally. As things played out over the course of a month or so, I had several conversations with some teams, and I had to come to terms with what I wanted. Was I deciding based solely on wanting to be on the grid or make a decision on what is best for me personally and that decision was that I needed some time away from the car and once I got to that mindset, the deal to come home to a very familiar space and team came together very quickly. The pieces just fell together the way they needed to, and it shows that when you put yourself first, the puzzle pieces fit better.
AST: You got a chance to attend the NFL Super Bowl this year? How was it?
DR: It was fantastic. I am a Buffalo Bills fan and have a great relationship with Josh Allen the quarterback, so I wish they made it, but being able to attend was a check off the list. When you are driving full time, you don’t have as many opportunities to do the side wants in life, but now I have this opportunity and I am going to make the most of it.
