There are three things everyone needs to know about Daniel Ricciardo. He’s a Formula 1 driver. He’s from Perth, Australia. There’s nothing he’s proud of more than being a Western Australian. Another thing you need to know about Ricciardo—he’s this happy-go-luck person who always has his trademark smile in place, brightening up other people’s days. Considering all this, tears would be the last thing any F1 fan would relate to Ricciardo. But the Honey Badger is known to defy the odds sometimes. This time, instead of making people happy with his contagious happiness, he made his fans emotional.

The F1 community hasn’t gotten a lot of Ricciardo content in the past few weeks, courtesy of his fracture. To make up for that absence, Western Australia’s YouTube channel posted a video of Daniel and his best friend, Blake, going on a road trip around Western Australia. Titled “Drive the Dream with Daniel Ricciardo | A Western Australian Road Trip Adventure,” the two of them travel from Perth to Exmouth, experiencing the mesmerizing landscapes. As fun as the trip looked, it was their tribute to Australia’s Aboriginal culture that left fans with a lump in their throats. 

Dating back thousands of years, Aboriginal culture in Australia is more than just a belief. It’s a lifestyle, one that Daniel and Blake experienced as they headed to Shark Bay (Gutharraguda). In Aboriginal Australian culture, there’s this spiritual connection to the land. Land isn’t just a physical space. It has spiritual significance that is seen as a source of life. And what better way to connect with the spirit of “Country” than food? That’s exactly what Daniel and Blake did as they spent time learning about Gutharraguda.

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Daniel Ricciardo is “a great ambassador for Western Australia”

The entire video is a montage of Ricciardo and Blake going from place to place, learning about their Country and paying tribute to its beautiful Aboriginal culture. Needless to say, it struck a chord with not just Aboriginal Australians but with everyone who went on that journey with the two of them—albeit virtually.

“As an Aboriginal Australian, I almost cried when they started to respect Country and learn about it. Seeing one of my favorite drivers who has inspired me heaps, learning and respecting my culture almost brought tears to my eyes 😭🫶,” said one viewer in the YouTube comments. Ricciardo has stressed how much he loves Australia many a time, and his effort to get to know his country better didn’t go unappreciated.

Ricciardo also has this aura about him that makes people connect with him better. “It’s been a real-artistic way to show their trip. Really enjoyable. I don’t know how, but at some point, a few tears are invading my eyes, maybe a kind of connection. Always admired the capacity of Daniel to connect with the people.” It had all of us on the verge of tears as well.

“How am I emo and nostalgic for a place I’ve never been 😭🤍 beautiful 🥹” That’s the power of Daniel Ricciardo, I guess.

“This brought tears to my eyes when they did welcome to Country you could tell they both respected and appreciated the culture and how important it is to ground yourself. Western Australia is beautiful as a North Queensland girl, I can say that it’s one of the only places I’d move to beautiful part of Australia ❤ god speed Daniel all the best we are all behind you x” No wonder Ricciardo is such a fan of his homeland.

It’s confirmed, then. “Daniel is a great ambassador for Western Australia 🥹”

What were your emotions watching Daniel Ricciardo explore Western Australia?

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