“He’s the Guy I Want to Beat the Most… I Need to Get Him”: Daniel Ricciardo Once Revealed His True Intentions Toward ‘Least Favorite’ Lewis Hamilton

Two years back, Daniel Ricciardo was given a unique chance to reminisce about his school days. The official YouTube channel of F1 released a video that shows the Aussie connecting with school kids and answering all sorts of questions they’d have for him.

The Aussie is all set to leave the grid officially after the conclusion of the 2022 season. As he bids McLaren adieu this year, many fans have been upset with them for letting the Honey Badger go. But looking back at a relatively happy time in Ricciardo’s career, let’s see what he did to inspire young minds.

The Aussie admitted that even though he is a grown-up, a big part of him fits right in with the kids. He’s extremely good with them and he believes he can walk into their tiny shoes.

As the kids asked questions regarding culture, favorite movies and such, one little boy asked Ricciardo who his biggest challenge was. He specifically asked him who he liked the “least” of all racers.

To this, Ricciardo said, “All of them. Don’t like any of them at all. I guess my least favorite is the guy that’s winning?”

To this, the little kid coyly asked, “Lewis Hamilton?”

Without a beat, Ricciardo responded saying, “Lewis Hamilton, yeah! You said it, not me.”

“I have got no problem with Lewis. He’s been winning for quite a few years. So he’s like the guy I want to beat the most because he’s winning.

When further asked if he has beaten Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, The Honey Badger replied, “Sebastian was my teammate in 2014. So. beat him that year, which was cool. And then Lewis, I’ve beaten a few times but not enough. I need to get him.”

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As he answered their curious questions, Daniel Ricciardo also shared tid bits from his childhood.

Daniel Ricciardo shared about his fear of loud noises

As the kids gathered around the Aussie to ask him all kinds of questions, one kid got curious if the Honey Badger ever got nervous before a race.

Whilst Ricciardo shed light on how being nervous before the race actually added to giving him the energy he needed to push forth, he delved into a sweet irony of his childhood story.

The Honey Badger claimed that he never liked loud noises as a kid. And this surprises him, considering the fact that F1 cars are quite loud. He shared that right before starting a race when he was little, at his school carnival, whenever the gun went off, he’d stick his fingers in his ears because he couldn’t deal with its loudness.

He said his reactions were always bad, and it was something he used to struggle with, which doesn’t pose an issue for himself today.

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The Honey Badger is all set to give up the wheel for the next season, however, he isn’t walking away from the grid. He maybe considering a role of a third driver with Mercedes, although nothing has been confirmed just yet. What do you think? Where should the Australian driver go?