Readying for his 101st Grand Prix at Belgium's Spa Francorchamps circuit this weekend, formula one driver Daniel Ricciardo has acknowledged that the pathways for young Australians into motorsport's elite levels are continuing to improve.
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Ricciardo, who sits third in the world championship standings behind Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, is encouraged by the Confederation of Australian Motorsport's involvement in promoting Formula 4 as the open wheel pathway for young Australians.
"I think it is getting a lot better, absolutely," Ricciardo said. "Obviously I don't spend that much time at home anymore but there are a lot more categories now that are more representative of what's happening in Europe. Formula world four is the new one.
"I think just having all these junior programs and even coming from Australia to Europe and there are a few Kiwis as well, you know I think the programs that are set up in Europe are now looking as well in Australia and New Zealand and they are noticing that there is talent over there."
Ricciardo, who took himself to Europe as a youngster to advance his pathway to formula one, came through the Red Bull development program and sister team Toro Rosso before ultimately taking the Red Bull seat vacated by countryman Mark Webber.
"The awareness now [of Australian talent] is a bit more than it was five or eight years ago when I got in. I think it's getting better, Australia is still obviously not Europe, it never will be because it it so far away, but it is definitely on the map now in motor sport."
Ricciardo finished second in the German Grand Prix before the mid-season break and has since spent time in America on holidays with friends. He said that the thrill of being involved in formula one had not dimmed, but as a more experienced driver he was increasingly aware of his role-model status.
"I still feel like a kid myself, but sure there are younger kids now," he said. "For example I was at the restaurant and a kid came up from me and him and his family at flew from Jordan to watch the race (German GP) and he was probably 12 years old and he said 'I've started racing and I'm racing because of you. I've seen you on TV and you're my hero and I want to be like you so we have come here this weekend to watch you race'. And that was quite cool.
"Even if you can just make someone happy and give someone a chance to dream then I guess that's pretty powerful and obviously I had when i was a kid people looked up too. And it's weird putting yourself in those shoes and people are now looking up to you."
