On 2 September 2013, Ricciardo was on the precipice of the most significant chapter of his life. After two and a half seasons of toil with Red Bull’s midfield development team Toro Rosso, he was announced as compatriot Mark Webber’s replacement in the big leagues.
The season that followed could scarcely have panned out better. The Australian was paired with reigning four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, and trounced him utterly.
The world was at Daniel Ricciardo’s feet. More points. More wins. Maybe even a championship — nothing was beyond reach of Formula One’s hottest rising star.
The dream came crashing down so quickly.
His first 2015 engine lasted just one free practice session, but that Friday in Australia was no isolated incident — 2015 would be a season characterised by a rapid souring of the once-great marriage between Red Bull Racing and Renault.
Though the Renault power units were no good, it soon became obvious that the RB11 chassis too was something of a disappointment. The poor performances spiralled, and each race became increasingly testing.
“I came into this season genuinely expecting to be fighting for more wins and hoping that was going to lead to a title fight,” Ricciardo told this writer during the British Grand Prix weekend. “So it’s been frustrating at times, for sure.
“After so many races you deal with it a bit better, but reality sometimes sets in and you think, ‘Wow, we got lapped today’ or, ‘We were a second and a half off the pace’.
“That’s not easy to deal with, especially when I felt I was on such a rise.”
Mind you, any internal angst over Red Bull’s futile position in 2015 is expertly hidden behind Ricciardo’s plugged-in smile. How has he managed to keep his head during his team’s lowest performance ebb?
"I’ve had to adjust a few things!” he laughed. “I will probably look back on this season, whether it’s next year or years down the track, and think that I took something from it.
“Then, when I do get a car that’s capable of winning again, I’ll appreciate it even more. I would like to think I’ll use it even more to my advantage.
“But the positives for now are that it’s not like I’ve forgotten anything.
“I feel like I’m still the same driver I was last year, it’s just that, unfortunately, I can’t demonstrate that as often this year, which is the more frustrating thing.”
Despite this, Ricciardo’s standing has remained strong — indeed, the last week of Ricciardo’s F1 narrative has been dominated by rumours he could be called to replace Kimi Räikkönen at the end of the year.
“I don’t even know where that rumour started, but it has really exploded!” said Ricciardo. “It’s nice to be regarded by a top team like that. I’m with a top team, but to know that there’s interest and support from other teams is nice.
“Obviously I can’t say too much, but I’ll be honest: I haven’t had any direct contact with Ferrari. It’s just been a conversation through the media rather than a direct conversation or approach!”
But the rumours are nonetheless telling: Ricciardo’s mark on the paddock after just two seasons is indelible.
“Without getting cocky or too sure of myself, I said at the beginning of last year that I want to be one of those drivers who are in that top tier and who people talk about — every weekend that guy is going to be there and going to be strong.
“Hearing Ferrari and these other teams starting to mention your name is a sign that you’re getting to this point where, even if it’s a bad season, people don’t lose faith in your ability and they know it’s just a little bump in the road.
“Maybe a few people have forgotten about me this year, but that’s what I feel like I’m capable of.”
The remainder of 2015 is likely to be as difficult as the first half, if not because of unreliability, then because of the high-level politicking between Red Bull Racing and Renault, with both threatening to leave the sport.
“We’ll see what happens next year,” says Ricciardo, that plugged-in smile firmly engaged.
A revitalised Red Bull? A move to Ferrari? A move elsewhere, perhaps? Even now, in the middle of the difficult second album of his Red Bull Racing career, the world somehow still seems to be at the feet of this enthusiastic Australian.