Australia’s first-ever Grid Babies give Ricciardo a grilling at a press conference
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| Daniel Ricciardo and the Australian GP Grid Kids |
In the lead up to this weekend’s season-opening Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Mobil 1 held an exclusive event with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Driver Daniel Ricciardo and Australia’s 2018 Grid Kids to help inspire the next generation of local racing champions.
The Power of #1 event saw Ricciardo step into the hot seat for a kids-only grilling from some of Australia’s top karters. He talked to the Grid Kids about the teamwork aspect of performance driving and the importance of everyone and everything being of the very best quality, from engineering and technology innovation to the right team and partners. The Grid Kids were also given a unique and exclusive opportunity to take to the Karting Victoria Championship Track in a time challenge race against Ricciardo.
DANIEL RICCIARDO, ASTON MARTIN RED BULL RACING DRIVER:
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| David Tsurusaki from ExxonMobil educates the kids about F1 technology |
“It’s been cool, the kids have been great, their questions were pretty challenging, but their energy is infectious, so it’s been a lot of fun. Being able to spend some time with them and hopefully help to inspire their next steps in karting, or whatever they choose to do in the future, is great. When I was their age I had no real idea about sponsorship or the importance of having the right people and partners around you to support your on-track performance, so I’m grateful to Mobil 1 for giving me the chance to share some of what I’ve learnt through the years with the young guys and girls coming through."
DAVID TSURUSAKI, GLOBAL MOTORSPORT TECHNOLOGY MANAGER, EXXONMOBIL:
“What many people don’t fully grasp is how much of the work we do to deliver new levels of performance on the track ultimately ends up driving technological innovation on the road. Take the fuel and lubricant formulations brought to Melbourne for race one; they are part of the ongoing development program. On and off the track, we have a rigorous development program for our Mobil 1 lubricants, always demanding the absolute best of our people. With the drive of these Australian Grid Kids it gives me great confidence in our next generation too."