If we have to name one active driver with no haters, it would most probably be Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian driver’s contagious big smile brightens anyone’s day. The Honey Badger, however, is also a fiercely competitive person. And his competitive side came out a while back when the Perth-based driver had a minor altercation with a Hollywood star.

Ricciardo’s captivating humor and optimism have earned him the position of Chief of Optimism at Optus. He loves his role as an influencer and frequently shares tips, interviews, and information about Formula One on social media. Earlier this year, in an interview with LinkedIn, Ricciardo discussed his lofty goals as he wanted to compete with Hollywood comedian Reynolds for the most followers.

The McLaren driver had only 155k followers at the time, whereas Reynolds had over 328k subscribers to his LinkedIn page. Despite the fact that he was behind, Ricciardo had made up his mind to reach those numbers. He said jokingly,” Certainly an area where we can probably compete well in the looks department. Globally, his reach is still a little bit higher, so it is an ambitious target.”

After a few months, it appeared that Ricciardo had abandoned his goals because Ryan now has over 1.39 million followers, while the Honey Badger is still stuck only at 283k.

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After Ricciardo parted ways with McLaren, the Australian made the decision to return to his home team, and there were many rumors that he might get a chance to drive. Now the flamboyant Australian himself confirms when he will be spotted in the Red Bull car.

Daniel Ricciardo to make an appearance in the paddock?

As early as April, the honey badger may be spotted making a comeback in Formula 1. The 33-year-old believes that at the Australian Grand Prix, he can be seen in the paddock. The former McLaren driver, however, will not compete in the race weekend and is most likely to make his appearance as an ambassador.

In a conversation with Beyond the Grid podcast, Ricciardo said, “I would likely say Melbourne would probably be my first one. I’ve got to check the calendar, but I’m pretty sure Melbourne would make sense, and any excuse to get back to Aus.”

With rumors circulating about a potential F1 drive at Australia’s renowned Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, Ricciardo might make his team debut much sooner. During the Bathurst 12-hour weekend at the beginning of February, Red Bull will conduct demonstration laps in their championship-winning 2011 vehicle.

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With his extensive expertise in competing at the highest level of racing, Ricciardo has chosen to forgo the sport this year. He now intends a strong comeback on the F1 racetrack with his batteries fully charged. Do you believe the Honey Badger will be able to show his magic in 2024?