Daniel Ricciardo Was Willing to Put His “Balls on the Line” Only to Become Like His NASCAR Idol: “I’ll Do What It Takes”

Daniel Ricciardo busted the saying ‘Nice Guys Never Win!’ The latest of the late breakers, Ricciardo boosted the F1 paddock with enthusiasm and his contagious smile. Though on track, he wasn’t the smiley guy. In an interview with Square Mile, Daniel reveals his inspiration for being the daring racer that he has been in F1.

Daniel Ricciardo is a huge NASCAR fan, following the legend Dale Earnhardt. Following his childhood hero, Ricciardo also chose the notable racing #3 when he got the chance in F1. Besides the number, he also adopted the aggressive driving style of “The Intimidator” Earnhardt.

Speaking with Ben Winstanley in 2021, Daniel mentioned why he tweaked his driving style. He stated, “I got to a point where I didn’t really want to be the nice guy who is just there to show up. I started, let’s say, putting my balls on the line and actually, you know, pulling off some moves.”

The Australian driver reasoned that he may still be respected for trying a daring move, even if he crashed while doing so. He added, “Once I was able to show that I could still be this fun guy, but when the helmet comes down, I’ll do what it takes.”

“That was the moment I felt I earned the paddock’s respect. Yes, you do see me smiling, but this shit means a lot to me.”

Known as the Honey Badger in the F1 world, Ricciardo justifies the nickname. Now the Honey Badger is a small animal found in Australia which becomes quite ferocious if cornered. And Daniel’s aggressive moves on track are proof of how he imbibes the same traits.

Read More: Daniel Ricciardo Raises a Glass to His F1 Career With “Secret Sauce”

It’s going to be a shame that the Aussie driver may not be showing his daring moves on track next season. Nevertheless, his fans keep their fingers crossed to see the old Daniel back in F1 sooner than later.

When Daniel Ricciardo got his ‘Redemption’ in Monaco

Daniel Ricciardo has got a bittersweet connection with the Monaco GP. He had a heartbreak moment in 2016 when the race victory slipped from his grasp on a rainy day in Monte Carlo. It was one of those days when the Australian was without his smile, finishing runner-up to Lewis Hamilton.

Fast forward to 2018 and Daniel was again in pole position in the principality with Red Bull. It was all set up similarly to 2 years ago, but the Honey Badger had other ideas this time.

Starting ahead of Sebastian Vettel on Sunday, Ricciardo held the lead in the race after the first pit stops. While Red Bull evaded the pit stop, unlike in 2016, Danny Ric experienced other issues with his RB14. On Lap 28 of 78, Daniel felt like he was losing power from his V6 engine.

It would have brought all demons back to Daniel’s mind, creating a déjà vu from 2 years earlier. With 50 laps to go, he was going about 12 mph slower than the top speed, costing him approximately 2.5 seconds a lap.

Yet he persisted in absorbing the pressure from Vettel and emerged as the winner in Monte Carlo that afternoon. Ricciardo was jovial after finally taking the coveted race victory in F1 accomplishing his redemption. It was a herculean effort and quite against his aggressive nature.

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Monaco 2018 was one of Ricciardo’s iconic moments in F1. The grit to defend his lead in an underpowered car showed his completeness as a driver. Even though he has not been at his best since then, we know how passionate he is to emulate the same performances again. Let us know about your favorite Daniel Ricciardo racing moment.