The eight-time Grand Prix winner and current McLaren Formula 1 team driver Daniel Ricciardo has a different name: “The Honey Badger”. He has had this nickname since his early career on the Toro Rosso F1 team.
A nod to an animal known for its ferocity, fearlessness and strength, Ricciardo embodies all of these qualities when his helmet is put on and he gets into a Formula 1 car. But the qualities that made him a star and a sought-after driver weren’t always present in his own beliefs.
The 2012 Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka changed that and one of the legends of the sport made a young Ricciardo feel like he belonged in Formula 1 and had what it took to compete at the highest level.
A young driver against a seven-time world champion
Daniel Ricciardo speaks on the Ariel Helwani Show.
In 2012 Daniel Ricciardo completed his first full season in Formula 1. He had driven for HRT F1 in 2011, but only on a part-time schedule. The young Aussie made a positive impression on the season, collecting his first points and ending the season well.
In the championship race in Suzuka, Ricciardo defended his position against a persistent Michael Schumacher, who drove for Mercedes GP after his retirement.
In an interview on the Ariel Helwani Show, Ricciardo describes what happened next: “I had Michael Schumacher behind me. He was still racing when I started, which in itself was surreal. I still can’t really believe this because he was a hero of mine growing up.
“He was behind me and in a better car at the time, and he was Michael Schumacher too. I’ve been defending it for the last 10-15 rounds and it was the last point so it was a top 10 (target) which was great for me at that time in my career.
“When I wasn’t under pressure and wasn’t overwhelmed by the fact that Schumacher was behind me, I knew that this was an inner moment for me when I thought: ‘OK, I need something for it’, to endure the pressure and everything. ‘”
Ricciardo and Schumacher rarely fought for positions, with the Mercedes usually further ahead than the Toro Rosso. The excitement of driving the seven-time champion made a lasting impression on Ricciardo. But it wasn’t until the next race in Korea that an off-track conversation with Schumacher made him believe that he belonged to Formula 1.
Ricciardo explained the encounter: “It was probably even cooler in the following race. We have the drivers parade a few hours before the race and we all walk around together and wave to the crowd. He came up to me – and I hadn’t really spoken to him yet – and he said, ‘Nice job in Japan, you defended really well’ and I was just like, ‘Wow, cool’.
“That was really the first moment I thought, ‘Okay, maybe I am one of them.'”
Daniel Ricciardo had a tough Formula 1 season in 2021, but recent advances could bring him back to the top of the grid on a regular basis
Daniel Ricciardo from Australia and McLaren F1 celebrate in Parc Ferme during the sprint ahead of the Italian F1 Grand Prix on September 11, 2021 | Bryn Lennon / Getty Images
Ricciardo joined the McLaren F1 team in early 2021 after leaving Alpine / Renault. Moving to the Woking-based team should put Ricciardo at the top of the grid and keep him battling for podiums and points. However, due to problems early in the season with adapting his driving style to the McLaren, he was overtaken by teammate Lando Norris. He never gave up a challenge, he took a curve after the summer break and won the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
The second half of the 2021 season looked better for the Australian star, but a car crash in Sao Paulo cost him a finish in the points and a chance to overtake team rivals Ferrari.
‘The Honey Badger’ may have a reputation for being a tough competitor on the track, but that hasn’t always been the case. Sometimes a quick comment and a positive word of encouragement are enough to instill positive beliefs in yourself. For Ricciardo, the fight with Schumacher and the conversation in Korea had a significant impact on his own beliefs and he is successful in one of the most demanding sports in the world.
Related: McLaren discovers a broken chassis is the cause of Daniel Ricciardo’s retirement from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
The post Daniel Ricciardo reveals that one of the toughest competitors made him believe he belonged in Formula One first appeared on monter-une-startup.
