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Horner recalls Ricciardo's three-win first year at Red Bull

Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-11-02GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration

Horner says Red Bull initially questioned Ricciardo's overtaking ability, but he won three Grands Prix in his first season with the team in 2014.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · · 1 min

Daniel Ricciardo answered Red Bull's doubts about his racecraft with three victories in his first season at the team, Christian Horner recalled in an interview with 60 Minutes Australia. Promoted from Toro Rosso in 2014, Ricciardo won in Canada, Hungary and Belgium.

Horner said Red Bull had not seen Ricciardo overtake many cars and questioned whether he had the racecraft to fight at the front. Once he was in the Red Bull, Horner recalled, Ricciardo “never stopped overtaking people” and became “an animal on the brakes.”

The wins came in a 2014 season dominated by Mercedes. Ricciardo also regularly outperformed teammate Sebastian Vettel, the four-time defending champion, in the same garage.

Sources 01
  1. SOURCEMark Webber's Red Bull exit branded "disrespectful" as Daniel Ricciardo praisedMotorsport.com F1