Daniel Ricciardo: Carlos Sainz Jr would benefit from early F1 debut
Double grand prix winner Daniel Ricciardo reckons Red Bull stablemate Carlos Sainz Jr would benefit from making his Formula 1 debut with a backmarker team
Sainz has held talks with Caterham since the squad's takeover by a group of Middle Eastern and Swiss investors advised by ex-HRT boss Colin Kolles, though Red Bull has told the Spaniard to focus on winning Formula Renault 3.5 this season.
Red Bull ace Ricciardo made his F1 debut with HRT in 2011, before stepping up to Red Bull's Toro Rosso squad in 2012, and the Australian said he benefited from an introductory part-season with a small team.
"I think it helps in a lot of ways," Ricciardo said.
"It helped me get into F1, settle down with all the nerves, not really in a spotlight, so it eased me into the sport a little bit.
"It also makes you more grateful for what you have.
"When I signed for Toro Rosso I was the happiest man in the world knowing that I could maybe fight for points.
"You really work hard for those extra last little bits.
"Signing for Red Bull made me more grateful to get the better things so I am sure we will see it with other drivers coming through.
"Jules [Bianchi] is obviously doing really well at Marussia, there is talk [about Sainz].
"It didn't harm me. As a driver you want to be in the best team as soon as possible, but it definitely helped me learn in the right way."
Sainz told AUTOSPORT last month that any F1 experience "is going to be a good thing" but that his priority for this year is to become the first Red Bull driver to win the FR3.5 title.
Previous article
Sergio Perez: Force India F1 team personnel the equal of McLaren's
Next article
Berger: Making Ferrari win again in F1
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Carlos Sainz Jr. , Daniel Ricciardo |
| Author | Jonathan Noble |
Albert Park Circuit Modifications Project
Mercedes-AMG F1 Team: Bahrain GP Race Debrief
The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola
After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. BEN ANDERSON looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says NIGEL ROEBUCK
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of car-racing titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
Are we at peak F1 right now?
For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak
How crucial marginal calls will decide the Red Bull vs Mercedes battle in F1 2021
The longer Red Bull can maintain a performance edge over Mercedes, the better the odds will be in the team’s favour against the defending world champions. But as the Bahrain Grand Prix showed, many more factors will be critical in the outcome of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship
How Williams’ new structure adheres to a growing F1 trend
Williams held out against the tide for many years but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, the age of the owner-manager is long gone
When a journeyman driver's F1 career lasted just 800m
Nikita Mazepin’s Formula 1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix lasted mere corners before he wiped himself out in a shunt, but his financial backing affords him a full season. Back in 1993 though, Marco Apicella was an F1 driver for just 800m before a first corner fracas ended his career. Here’s the story of his very short time at motorsport’s pinnacle
The nightmare timing that now hinders Mercedes
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton took victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite, for a change, not having the quickest car. But any hopes of developing its W12 to surpass Red Bull's RB16B in terms of outright speed could not have come at a worse time.
