Daniel Ricciardo: “The first aim is to try to finish…”

Dan sets out for an HRT track walk. Team mate Liuzzi will provide fashion advice

The GP debut of Daniel Ricciardo will be one of the big stories of this weekend at Silverstone, and while the Aussie will be at the tail end of the grid with Hispania, he is expected to graduate a front running team before too long.

Ricciardo has had some good preparation in the form of his eight Friday mornings with Toro Rosso, although he still has to learn about the HRT. He says his target is to finish.

“It was quite a big surprise,” he said. “I didn’t expect to be racing Formula One this year so it’s a huge opportunity for me and still a bit of a shock. But I am sure it will all be realised come Sunday.

“It is a huge opportunity to get a chance to race in Formula One. It is something I have dreamed of since I was a boy. For the race I think the first aim is to try to finish and just get the miles under my belt and the experience at this level of my career. That’s the most important thing.

“I’ve never done a race this long so physically and mentally to find out where I am, I think that is going to be good. If I can try and be competitive compared to Tonio, he is very experienced, and I am sure I can learn something from him so we will see how I go.”

Ricciardo admits he hasn’t had much time for any specific preparation for this weekend.

“I’ve been travelling a lot, now doing both championships so I can only do so much with the training at this stage but I think the race fitness is pretty good because I’ve done quite a bit of racing this year. So yeah, we will see how we go on Sunday but I feel ready for it.

“I’ve got an idea, being the reserve for Red Bull Racing last year and seeing how the boys handle the race weekend – Mark and Seb – and knowing what they do or knowing a little bit what they do outside of race weekends, I’m able to build up a bit of a programme for myself.

“I’ve only known a week ago that this was going to come – I can’t change the world in a week. I’d been preparing for it for a little while just in case I got the call, which I have. I’m sure I’m going to be alright.”