Is Daniel Ricciardo Italian?

The 2023 saw Daniel Ricciardo’s much-awaited comeback to the pinnacle of motorsport. While he is one of the most talented drivers on the grid. His career has seen its fair share of setbacks. The Honey Badger has taken big gambles during his career, like the move to Renault. He has achieved 8 GP wins and 32 podiums in his lengthy career. His F1 journey began back in 2011 when he made his debut as a loan driver for HRT at the British GP. Fans worldwide adore Ricciardo for his talent and charismatic personality. But there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye!

Daniel Ricciardo might be Australian by birth, but he has a lot of Italian flavor to him. He was born in Perth, but to pursue a spot in Formula 1, he moved to Italy as a teenager. Ironically, it was Ricciardo’s father, Giuseppe, who had done the exact opposite earlier!

Who are Daniel Riccardo’s parents? Where are they from?

Daniel Ricciardo’s journey to Formula 1 would not have been possible without the help of his family. Ricciardo’s father, Giuseppe Ricciardo, was born in Ficarra, Messina. But when he turned 7, their family relocated to Australia. Which is where Giuseppe would marry Grace, Ricciardo’s mother. She also has a background in Italy, as her parents were from Casignana, Calabria. So with his father being Italian and his mother’s parents as well, it’s no wonder Ricciardo felt at home in Italy, as he was coming up in Junior Formula.

Ricciardo was quoted by Pirelli, “I grew up in Australia and I love Australia; it’s a beautiful country. But I lived in Italy for a couple of years when I was coming up through the junior formulas and I definitely feel that there’s a lot about me and my family that’s Italian.”

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He also reflected on how proud his Italian heritage makes him, “When we’re sat down at the table together eating a plate of pasta, the passion of it makes me and my family a very, very Italian group of people. I’m proud of that.” Daniel Ricciardo also speaks Italian and especially loves the family bond that comes with a big Italian family.

Does Daniel Ricciardo race with the Italian flag on his car?

Daniel Ricciardo’s parents have their heritage in Italy, but Ricciardo was raised in Australia. So by birth, he is an Australian national, and his love for the country he grew up in cemented the Australian flag as the one he uses with AlphaTauri. Throughout his career, he has used the Australian flag. However, it’s quite evident from the way he speaks of Italy that there’s very much a big part of him that’s Italian.

He had to sit out of representing the Australian flag for a while though, as his move to McLaren had gone sour. But that’s when the stars began to line up for Red Bull Racing‘s former talent. He was signed by Red Bull’s sister team, AlphaTauri, for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Ricciardo’s comeback to Formula 1 was off to a shaky start with AlphaTauri. Having to sit out of a few races after a setback in Zandvoort, he aims to make a return this weekend in Austin.

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Things are looking up for Ricciardo. Red Bull’s Chief Advisor Helmut Marko is on Ricciardo’s side for a seat in the top team. But it will be up to Sergio Perez to pull up his socks to deny the Australian’s charge! It will be a tense few races as the 2023 season draws to a close.