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Today, Ricciardo, still just 22, is the hottest new thing on the F1 grid. Having impressed in his grand prix debut late last year, his superiors promoted him to Red Bull underling squad Toro Rosso for 2012. It's not the quickest car on the grid - and, short of an unearthly dollop of good luck, he's not going to win a race anytime soon - but he's got the knees wobbling of a fellow called Sebastian Vettel. And Mark Webber, too, given our favourite Canberran is nearing the end of his grand prix career. But while Ricciardo might be rocketing towards the exospheric heights of F1 success, his career began humbly, racing rickety go karts around Perth's dusty Barbagallo track.