Daniel Ricciardo’s Parents: Italian-Born Father Joe & Lookalike Mother Grace

Parents play a huge role in a life of a Formula One driver; being there for them on good days as well as bad days. Daniel Ricciardo’s parents are no different as they help the Australian driver move across to Europe to fulfill his dream of competing in the pinnacle of motorsport. The man hailing from Perth is the son of Grace and Giuseppe “Joe” Ricciardo.

The parents of McLaren driver, Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo’s father, Joe moved to Australia when he was just seven. While his mother, Grace was born in Australia. Additionally, apart from having Daniel, they even have a daughter called, Michelle Ricciardo. An interesting fact about Daniel’s dad is that he was a racer as well. Joe competed at the Barbagallo Raceway in Western Australia.

Apart from supporting Daniel during a Grand Prix weekend, both Grace and Joe work together and run a business called, Ricciardo Earth Moving in western Australia. Grace even featured on a few episodes on the hit Netflix series, Formula One: Drive to Survive.

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Is Ricciardo of Italian desecnt?

Many would assume that Daniel doesn’t have any European heritage. However, that couldn’t be further away from the truth as both Daniel’s parents, Joe and Grace have Italian backgrounds.

Daniel’s father was born in Ficarra and shifted to Australia when was just seven. Meanwhile, his mother was born in Australia but had Italian parents.

When he wanted to get into karting, Ricciardo revealed the conversation he had with his dad. Speaking on Beyond the Grid, he said, “I didn’t overthink it, all I needed was to convince him to buy me a go-kart. At 9 years old, I wasn’t like, yeah dad I’m gonna make it.It was more like; can you please buy me a go-kart? I like driving fast.”

Seeing that he is of Italian descent, made his win even sweeter when he took the chequered flag at the Italian Grand Prix this season with McLaren; taking his total wins in Formula One up to eighth.

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