“Sometimes you have a bad day, and you’re like, ‘I’m over this, and I just want to play tennis,’ or do another sport that doesn’t require any other variables, but then you have a good day, and it’s like, it’s amazing, and the success makes up for it.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Music is how I unwind. I love going to see bands or DJs at a festival or a dive bar. My taste is pretty diverse.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I’m in this sport to win but win by being the best, not by being lucky.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I try to send out a good message – I sometimes get asked for advice for leaving home and trying to ‘make it’ overseas. I would always say think long term, and think bigger picture: make the sacrifice.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“In the end, you have to just pull the trigger. Trust the car, trust the brakes, just go.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Being an F1 driver is a crazy job but not what everyone expects. My year consists of 20% driving and 80% media, marketing, and travel.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I was fascinated by racing as a kid, but no way would I have thought I’d make it into Formula One from here, from being from Perth, racing on little local go-kart tracks, you know.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Everything you can learn from is an opportunity to become stronger.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“On a bad day, I’ll still have a conscious thing in my mind reminding me that what I think of as a bad day is still a very good day in probably 90% of the world’s population’s eyes.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I love mountain-biking or any form of bikes, like dirt bikes; I love getting out there, although obviously I have to be careful.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“When I came into Red Bull, everyone thought, ‘He’s just the happy, nice guy; he’s fast, but he can’t race hard with these top guys.’ That was a reputation I had to dismiss.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Pretty much all the drivers I get on with, at least to say ‘Hi’ and have a conversation. But when the helmet’s on, you don’t care who it is. You have no sympathy: someone blows an engine in front of you, if it means you gain a position, then you’re smiling.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I do a bit of Brazilian ju-jitsu when I can. I like a bit of that.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Singapore is one of my favorite races, and the city is great.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Formula One was just cool. I loved racing, all types of racing, but from a young age, Formula One was the noise and everything, and that’s what I was drawn to. I already knew when I was younger, the coolest guys are in F1… not that NASCAR drivers aren’t cool, but that was always what I had in my head!”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“To get the Red Bull junior drive was like a massive pressure off… I didn’t have to go around asking Mum and Dad to sell their house or ask friends for funding. The instant feeling was, ‘Oh wow, amazing.’”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“People might call me a liar for this, but I want a fast teammate, I think for two reasons: it’s always going to get more out of yourself, and it’s always going to be a more true evaluation of where you stand.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“In World Series, everything is a bit slower than F1. But each time I sit in the car, whether it is World Series or F1, once I am in the cockpit, I am mentally prepared for what the car is. I don’t have to physically drive it to remember what it is doing.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“When you’re young, the temptation is maybe to think, ‘More is more.’ But a lot of the time less is more.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I used to go to work with Dad on the weekend. We’d drive past an indoor go-kart track every now and then, and we went there a few times. I was never tall enough, so I always left upset. I think I was seven when I was the right height, and I was like, ‘Please let me have a go.’ It was love at first sight.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I had a very successful 2014, but I have got to keep aiming for bigger and better things, so the world title is my goal.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I top up my endurance with running and cycling because in a race, your heart rate is up at 150, so we have to train at that level.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I will be happier if I crash by trying than not trying and running around behind the same guy for 70 laps.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Because of my schedule and dietary requirements, I don’t party a lot, but when I can let my hair down, I will; I think that’s healthy. I love a weekend in Vegas.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I don’t see my family often enough, but when we do catch up, it’s somewhere new in the world. They get to travel more than they would if I wasn’t doing this sport.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“People have seen now I am a racer, and I have big intentions in the sport, and I am prepared to get my shoulders out if I need to.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“If I am putting myself out there and taking some of these risks, then I want to do it properly.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“If I am going to race, I will put everything on the line.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“The day I do get a championship-winning car, I will run with it. I will capitalise on every part of that beautiful thing.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“The way I see it is if I can’t be happy doing this job, which is my dream job, then what’s going to make me happy in life?”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I will always find a way to find a positive from things.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“2014 is a year I’ll remember for a long time – it was definitely a breakthrough in my mind as well. Standing on the top step of the podium a few times was icing on the cake.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“If you like going a certain way, then be bold and do it.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I enjoy being outdoors, hanging out with friends, and maybe snapping the neck off a couple of beers.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I feel like even if I was to, say, trip and fall over on the way to the car and scratch all my arm, by the time I got in the car, it would be blacked out in my head.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I don’t like letting anyone down. Not many people get satisfaction out of letting others down.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“In Formula 1, you need a great level of endurance because the races are long, so you need a pretty good base endurance.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I signed a dog collar. Someone gave me their dog – a live dog – and I signed its collar. When they handed me the dog, I didn’t know what to do. That was weird.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“The car is a big part of it, but you need to be a good driver to get the equipment to the top. You need both.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“When you spend time working on something for a time period, and then it doesn’t correlate, it decreases in your motivation.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“As far as the outside things goes with Red Bull – I like the brand a lot, and obviously, I like the team a lot. We’ve always been a good fit for each other, so from that side, it’s all been really good.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Normally, if I don’t qualify as well as I think I can, I seem to carry a little chip on my shoulder for the race, and that normally helps me out.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I’d prefer no practices and just Saturday, Sunday. Just qualify Saturday morning, race Saturday afternoon, and race again Sunday. Less laps of nonsense and more laps of meaningful business.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“This sport’s crazy.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I feel ’14 didn’t just shape me and my approach from then on: it changed the level of overtaking from other guys in the sport as well. Not many people were doing that, coming from a long way back and trying big passing moves.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I’ve never really been too fussed about the kind of teammate I have.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“If I win the title, I want to know I was the best guy that year, and to be the best, you’ve got to go against the best.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I like having as many team-mates as possible. It’s great, because the more people you can learn off, the better I think it will make you as a driver.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“When I joined Formula One, I knew that what I found is that the cars are so much faster, and it took me a little while to understand where to always put the car.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“In racing, things start coming up quicker, and the slipstream is stronger, so even judging in the mirrors how quick the cars are approaching isn’t always easy.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I’ve learned what F1 is like, and it is an extremely competitive sport on and off the track.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“We know – relationships in this sport, it’s very hard to have a really great relationship.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I would like it to be remembered; I would love to be World Champion one day and have my name on the list. That is the real dream – although I am sure it is the dream for pretty much all the Formula 1 drivers.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I like high speed corners, but with the F111, it is taking a little time to build up to that.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“For my family, it was quite emotional because it has always been a dream of mine to be in Formula 1. For them, to see it come true was quite a special feeling.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“You can’t always win – although we always try!”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Every time I get in the car, I’m just focused on being the fastest, trying to win the race, trying to get pole.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Pressure’s what you make of it.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I think, in general, the sport’s frustrating because I think it’s one of only a few sports in the world where you’ve got so many other variables. Not taking anything away from the winner, but the best man doesn’t always win. I think part of that makes the sport really exciting, and part of it makes it heartbreaking.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I try to wake up naturally but set an alarm so I don’t sleep in too late.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I like a good protein and fat breakfast, so avocado, bacon, eggs, and some veggies.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“With racing, there’s not one thing you need to be really strong at, it’s a combination. You need a good base of cardio, good core, good neck strength. I think core and neck are the most important, but it’s certainly not my favourite. Neck training is pretty boring.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I don’t really cook much to be honest.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Good overtaking is important to me. There are a lot of quick maths involved. I will prepare from the corner before, thinking, ‘If I exit this way, and the driver ahead of me is in a certain position, then I’ll go for it.’ If he is not where I hope he will be, then I won’t pull the trigger. If he is, my decision has already been made.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I know people fear me when they see me in their mirrors. It’s a good position to be in because they know they need to defend to the limit.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“A lot of times when I was younger, whether it was in go-karting, or when I first started out in a new category, I would sit behind someone throughout a race. I didn’t have the confidence in that environment to take some risks.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“There have been times in my career when people thought I was a pushover, especially as they saw me as this smiley guy.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“It’s a complex sport; you’re always learning.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Back in 2014, I felt like I was ready to win a world title. I felt like I was prepared and I was as good as anyone else, but I knew I didn’t have the equipment.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I’m sure everyone has a cool story behind how they got into Formula One, but, for me, Perth, you know, not only in Australia is it detached, but it’s detached from the whole world.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Getting past my early 20s, I feel a bit more maturity and responsibility about that stuff. You get a good feeling from doing something good. You see a kid and you make his day, you realise the power of it. Whereas before, I was like, ‘That’s cool, whatever.’ But now, that’s what I’m most appreciative of.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I love music which helps me get focused and keeps my thoughts away from other things. The music gets heavier as the race gets closer, and my warm up routine starts to get a bit more intense with heart rates, etc.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I know what I want, and the performance side is more important than ticking the money box.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Having the chance to be able to fight for something really meaningful – races, championships – that’s the absolute priority.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I’ve definitely got better over the years at conserving my energy in pre-season – at knowing what to focus on and what to let go.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I’m not very patient.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I think once you get into the routine of race weekends, and there’s more of a structure, it gets a bit easier.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I love coming to America to race. Maybe that’s because I’m a big fan of NASCAR as well.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“It’s easy to get into the competition of F1, and you are never going to win every race even though you want to. So when you’re not winning, you want to win, so you’re not that happy. But you have to look at the big perspective, and I am very fortunate to be one of 22 in the world to do this.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I know that I’ll joke around to the last minute I get in the car. But once the helmet’s on – it’s sort of a cliche, but it’s true – it’s quite symbolic that that is ‘go time,’ and I’m ready to have some fun and be bad while I do it.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Since I got to F1, and especially since I got to Red Bull Racing, I said, ‘I don’t want to have any regrets. I’ve got a chance now in a top team. I want to leave it all on the table.’”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Overtaking is nearly as fun as winning races. The rush you get from it is awesome.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I loved a lot of motorsports, but as far as the ovals go, I was more into NASCAR.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Dale Earnhardt was kind of a hero of mine.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I was addicted to going fast, finding the big hills on the pushbike. It was just something I enjoyed a lot – things with wheels.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I enjoyed physical education and lunch time. The social aspect of school was great, but as soon as I left school, I wanted to get out there and race. I couldn’t sit still for long.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I’m very competitive. If I have to ‘turn it on,’ I know how to. The switch isn’t hard to find, don’t worry.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I feel I am promoting the sport well in Australia with what I’m doing on an international level.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I would love to do a one-off race somewhere – NASCAR would be awesome.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I’m the most ripped guy on the grid, let’s just say that.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I train five-and-a-half out of seven days and do a combination of exercise.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“You’re never perfect in this sport; there is always something to learn.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“To have a home Grand Prix is awesome, so just to go there is already a buzz.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“I’m sure there are some things I’m not good at.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
“Singing is definitely something I’m not good at. I wish I could be good at it, but that’s a skill I definitely don’t have.”
― Daniel Ricciardo
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