10/10 Series: Composure and Confidence - Daniel Ricciardo
The next champion that I discuss in this series is not a champion. Be that as it may, ‘The Honey Badger’ is one of those top tier competitors that has proven himself to be capable of being a champion given the right scenario. Ricciardo oozes composure, maintaining the same heart rate and wit /whether he is striding through the paddock or driving at 200mph.
His move to McLaren for 2021 puts him in the best place to show his brilliance outside of the top three teams. Leaving Red Bull took him away from a race-winning car - a wrong move on paper - but he had already read the situation. The Milton Keynes outfit were committed to chasing records with Max Verstappen rather than back Ricciardo to the same degree. Since then, Red Bull have missed Ricciardo’s presence and lost races as a result of his infilled boots.
Daniel is the character that every sport needs. He has charisma and doesn’t take himself too seriously, but at the same time, he performs when he heads out to battle. You might wonder whether I have a man-crush - I’m not afraid to admit that to be the case.
Iconic Moment: Hungary 2014
Daniel Ricciardo is box office, and so his special occasions form a long list. The time that comes to mind though is his second win at the Hungarian Grand Prix. 2014 was the year that Ricciardo came of age. The Australian won three races in his first season at Red Bull and ultimately ousted the guy who had won all of the world championships since 2010, Sebastian Vettel. Turning up at a team and putting a world champion in his place is a role reserved for few. Hamilton did it to Alonso in 2007, and last year, Charles Leclerc muscled Seb Vettel out of Ferrari and nearly Formula One.
In Hungary, it wasn’t just Vettel that Ricciardo took on. In a thrilling conclusion to the race, Ricciardo overtook Lewis Hamilton around the outside - never an easy feat - and then snatched the lead off Fernando Alonso with a late dive down the inside of turn one. To overtake 8 world championships worth of drivers with confidence and decisiveness like he did shows Ricciardo’s ability to hold his nerve. It was a moment where the established drivers woke up to the threat Danny Ric can pose. Years later, he admits that his radio message having taken the lead, “that’s how you do it ladies”, was a touch arrogant. Maybe so. But I told you that he still had wit while performing at the top of his game. Arguably one of the most level-headed drivers in Formula One, Daniel Ricciardo is champion material.