THE first Formula 1 car that Daniel Ricciardo drove at a Monaco Grand Prix could be yours – if you don’t mind the seven figure price tag.
Ricciardo has always traditionally excelled on the principality’s streets since his first F1 race there in 2012, the undoubted highlight his victory in 2018 after a near-miss two years prior.
However, Ricciardo’s first drive of a Formula 1 car at Monaco came a year prior to his first full season.
Scuderia Toro Rosso recruited Ricciardo as its designated test and reserve driver for the 2011 season, with the Australian also driving one of the team’s car in the opening practice session of race weekends.
The role saw him alternate between the cars of regular STR pilots Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguesuari from race to race, which is how he found himself in the chassis that is currently for sale.
Chassis STR06/01 was Alguesuari’s car from the Spanish to the Belgian Grand Prix, a run that included Monaco where Ricciardo set the 14th fastest time of Free Practice 1 aboard it.
“Before driving the F1 car, I had a practice session for the World Series (3.5 by Renault),” Ricciardo said.
“That was a good experience, because not many drivers get to drive two sessions in a morning, in beautiful race cars in Monaco!
“Your first time driving Monaco in a Formula 1 car is always going to be difficult so it was good to go out in the other car and see the track again for the first time since last year. Driving a Formula 1 car round here is really crazy and a lot of fun.”
While Alguesuari took over STR06/01 for the remainder of the weekend, Ricciardo enjoyed a very successful weekend behind the wheel of his WSR3.5 car: he swept pole position and the race win for the second year in a row, this time also setting the fastest lap.
The Monaco practice proved the only time Ricciardo drove STR06/01 prior to his placement in a race seat with the Hispania team from the British Grand Prix onwards.
The chassis, which is in Dubai, is currently listed for a cool GBP 1 million plus VAT – around AU$1.82m.
Click HERE to see the listing on racecarsdirect.com
