Ricciardo set to make Australian F1 history at the Spanish GP

Daniel Ricciardo is poised to set the outright record for the most number of race starts by an Australian in Formula 1 at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Ricciardo currently has 215 starts to his name, putting him level with Mark Webber, meaning he will surpass the total during this weekend's event in Barcelona.

Webber retired from F1 at the end of the 2013 season, a decision that paved the way for Ricciardo to step up to Red Bull alongside Sebastian Vettel.

Ricciardo's career started out with backmarker team HRT in 2011, before stints at Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault and, most recently, McLaren.

Ricciardo "happy to fly the flag" for Australia

Earlier this year, eight-time Grand Prix winner Ricciardo was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his "significant service to motorsport as a competitor and ambassador, and to the community".

"Just happy flying the flag for Australia," he wrote on social media afterwards.

Ricciardo joined Webber and triple F1 champion Jack Brabham in picking up the accolade, with the trio locking out the top three places on their country's list of F1 starts.

The all-time top 10 list of race starts by Australian drivers in F1 can be seen below (* denotes that the driver is still competing in the sport):