10 best quotes by Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo

Larrikin

Noun. Origin: Australian. Larrikin means a mischievous young person, an uncultivated, rowdy but good-hearted person, or a person who acts with apparent disregard for social or political conventions.

Daniel Ricciardo is definitely one. And he's a damn entertaining larrikin at that. A harmless prankster who is cheeky and irreverent, but whose wide grin, which almost feels like a 48-tooth smile, is infectious and amicable.

Ricciardo’s Aussie playfulness has won him a legion of fans, especially with his string of unexpectedly viral quotes. His forthrightness in interviews not only makes him dope social media material, but also someone who can move creatively inspired merchandise.

As he moves to the Renault team after five years at Red Bull, let's look at 10 of his irreverent and immensely enjoyable quotes from his career until now. (The quotes are arranged in no particular order).

The race burglar that is Daniel Ricciardo after the 2018 Chinese Grand Prix

#10 In the press conference, Ricciardo was asked what his response would have been if he was told he’d win a race in 2018 before either of the Mercedes drivers.

After some careful thought came what you’d expect any driver to do: quoting Jim Carrey from the Movie Ace Ventura – “Holy Testicle Tuesday!”

#9 When the Red Bull team radioed him at the Italian Grand Prix in 2017 to say Felipe Massa was ahead on track and that he was struggling for pace, Ricciardo replied, “Good. I like ‘em vulnerable.”

He of course promptly swallowed up good friend Massa to keep up his reputation of a stellar overtaker.

Daniel with Max after they finished 1-2 in qualifying in Mexico City

#8 After being just behind teammate Max Verstappen in all the practice sessions, Ricciardo nailed a perfect lap in Q3 to snatch the pole position at the 2018 Mexican Grand Prix, thus taking away Verstappen’s chance to become the youngest ever pole sitter.

Asked for a reaction, especially since this had come after a series of DNF’s, Ricciardo looked like he was relieved beyond belief and came up with: “I’m tripping major nutsack right now.”

This was actually an upgrade on an earlier quote he used in his debut for Red Bull in 2014, which features ahead.

#7 After burgling Valtteri Bottas to win the Chinese Grand Prix 2018 with the best move of the season, he also gave a comment for the ages. An instant classic due to its novelty and inventiveness while as much as for the audacity behind the overtaking manoeuvre. An exhilarating move, he went for a gap that only he saw, clinching the race lead and commented: " Sometimes, you've just got to lick the stamp and send it."

Staying neutral doesn't mean being boring for Ricciardo

#6 During the US Grand Prix at the Circuit of Americas, Texas in 2016, Ricciardo was asked if he would support Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton in the US election.

"Please sir, don't throw that catastrophe upon me. I'm standing here as a neutral. I just want what's best for the great city of Texas and the great country of America" - in his best Texan accent impression.

Ricciardo's radio messages are a pleasure that should be beamed more often

#5 During the same weekend, when asked to reflect on Max Verstappen’s DNF, Ricciardo said, again in a Texan accent: “When I saw Max’s car limping to a halt out on the circuit in the race there I thought, 'aw, hell, ma boy's done it again!'".

Daniel took a podium in his first race for Red Bull, at his home Grand Prix in Melbourne

#4 "Wow, to be the first Aussie on the Aussie podium. I am just speechless. I’m tripping balls," - an ecstatic Ricciardo said at the 2014 Australian Grand Prix.

This was the first race of the Turbo era and the Aussie was immediately up to the task; he was the only Mercedes-beating driver that year, with three wins. He also finished ahead of teammate and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, thus cementing his superstar status.

Never short of humour or self confidence

#3 When asked in a pre-race press conference as to what it’s like racing against two drivers who are statistically among the greatest of all time, this is how he responded.

“Are you talking about Seb?”

Yes.

“I beat him.” A partial joke, but that induced plenty of laughter and mirth.

Owner of the distinctive shoey celebration

#2 As the proud inventor of the 'shoey' celebration, this is how Ricciardo explained the science of it all:

"If the sparkling wine is cold, then it tastes good. Normally on the podium, it's cold so you don't get all the flavours but if it's warm, then you get the sweat and all that through it... but the cold taste kills the bad stuff."