McLaren driver and multiple Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo is nicknamed “The Honey Badger”. He has carried the picture of a honey badger on his helmet for a long time. The Aussie believes that he shares some qualities of a honey badger, thus carrying the name since his days in Toro Rosso.
Ricciardo recently talked about his “spirit animal” in an interview before the Qatar Grand Prix when a journalist told him that “honey badger is indigenous to this part of the world”. The Aussie went on to express his dream which he wants to fulfill before leaving Formula One.
Walking into the paddock with a honey badger
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Daniel Ricciardo has a dream of walking into a paddock with a honey badger on a leash. In a video shared by Formula1 , the Mclaren star can be heard saying that “it would be the coolest thing in the world.”
The honey badger might finally get to actually meet a honey badger! 😂#QatarGP 🇶🇦 #F1 pic.twitter.com/K31kipwiDn
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 18, 2021
Responding to the question posed by the journalist about whether he was aware that honey badgers are indigenous to that part of the world, Ricciardo replied, “I’m gonna say yes because of course, I know everything about my spirit animal.”
He went on telling what he always dreamt of, “My dream is to walk into the paddock once with a honey badger on a leash, as if it’s my pet.” The Aussie believes it would be the coolest thing in the world to him. Daniel further said that if anyone who owns or pets a honey badger could come in and help him, that would be appreciated.
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Why is the honey badger his spirit animal?
Daniel Ricciardo firmly believes that he shares the same qualities as that of the honey badger. Back in 2014, when he was asked about the relevance of the honey badger on his helmet, he was quick to respond. “It’s supposed to be the most fearless animal in the animal kingdom,” said Daniel.
“When you look at it, he seems quite cute and cuddly, but as soon as someone crosses his territory in a way he doesn’t like, he turns into a bit of a savage and he’ll go after anything – tigers, pythons – he turns very quickly, but he’s a good guy,” said the eight Grand Prix winner.
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This year during the Austin GP, Daniel released a helmet in honor of his childhood hero and NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt Sr. It had honey badger written on the back of it next to Mclaren service plus.
The masterpiece up close. 🎨#USGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/EOBxbrI6tp
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 22, 2021
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Tell us what do think of this cool helmet.
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