Sadly, Daniel Ricciardo will not compete at his home Formula One race this year, the Australian Grand Prix. But to excite viewers for the event, he has been given the keys to an older, V8-powered F1 car to tour the island nation.
A new video from Red Bull Racing sees the team’s official third driver hooning the 2011 RB7 on dusty trails in the Australian outback, on public roads, and even on the legendary Mount Panorama racetrack, host of the fearsome Bathurst 1000 race.
Along the way, he drives alongside local racing experts, including Toby Price and Daniel Sanders who are enduro racing legends, aerobatics pilot Matt Hall, and Supercars champion Shane Van Gisbergen in his Chevrolet Camaro.
Read: F1 Cars Will Return To Nurburgring Nordschleife As Part Of Red Bull Promo Event
One of several, similar promotional videos, Red Bull has previously sent Sergio Pérez on a tour of the U.S., Max Verstappen on a tour of the Netherlands, and even Daniel Ricciardo has participated in one of these films before.
“After my first Red Bull Racing Road Trip in San Francisco, I’ve always wanted the opportunity to do this in Australia,” said Ricciardo. “To be back home, taking the RB7 across the Aussie outback, and sharing the best Australia has to offer with the world; what better way to celebrate my first F1 event at home since returning to Oracle Red Bull Racing.”
The Red Bull RB7 competed in the 2011 Formula One season and was driven by Sebastian Vettel and noted Australian, Marc Webber. It is powered by a 2.4-liter V8 that revs all the way up to 18,000 RPM, hence the howling soundtrack in this video.
Designed by Adrian Newey, it was a dominant racer. One of the most successful F1 cars ever, it earned 12 victories in 19 races and helped Vettel to earn a driver’s world championship title in the process.
Its dominance may only be outdone by Red Bull’s current racecar, the RB19. Although it’s still early in the season, the car has won both races it has entered and will seek to make that three this weekend at the 2023 Australian Grand Prix.