The Inside Line - on Toro Rosso’s Daniel Ricciardo 18 May 2012
He may be one of the newest faces on the grid, but Toro Rosso’s Daniel Ricciardo is quickly establishing himself as a talent to watch for the future. We caught up with Ricciardo to find out about what makes him tick off the track and the Australian had a few surprises in store. After likening himself to a honey badger, he revealed his fear of sharks, a love of chocolate, and more…
Q: What keeps you awake at night?
Daniel Ricciardo: I get excited very easily, so I think a lot about things that I want to do, for example for Christmas with my friends, holidays that I will take in a few months, things like that. And sometimes that follows me into my sleep… or lack of sleep! (laughs)
Q: If you could banish one thing from your life forever, what would that be?
DR: What could that possibly be? I must say I am quite happy and I don’t have anything that I feel is pulling me down, so there is not really something that would deserve the need for banishment.
Q: What’s been your most valuable ‘life’ lesson?
DR: There was one karting race when I was something like 14 years-old. I was in second place and I said to myself I will wait until the last lap and then I will then get him. On the corner I had planned to pass him, he defended and I didn’t expect that and he won the race. So what I took home from that day was that you shouldn’t wait forever to make your move.
Q: What do you admire?
DR: People who follow their dreams and do what they love. Not just sport - in anything.
Q: If you could give your younger self some advice what would it be?
DR: I would say that whatever you do make sure you have fun doing it, on a professional level and with discipline, of course. Because when you stop having fun you lose your edge and your performance will suffer.
Q: If your racing career ended after this season what would you do with the rest of your life?
DR: I would love to stay in racing and I would look for another championship. But if racing was to finish completely, I have no idea. I would love to settle for another sport, but I am afraid that I would then be too old to take it to a really professional level. I don’t think that I would start studying something - I don’t think that’s something I would enjoy.
Q: What animal best reflects your personality?
DR: A honey badger. It is a very aggressive animal and of course quite cute… (laughs)
Q: What is more important in life than winning?
DR: Happiness. That’s the key.
Q: What would you spend your last dollar on?
DR: Chocolate. But anyway you don’t get a lot for a dollar these days so it would be an allowable amount that wouldn’t break the scales!
Q: What is your greatest weakness?
DR: Being too nice sometimes. In life it is not a weakness, but maybe it is on the circuit. But I will get over it. And for another try… being too sexy? (laughs)
Q: What is your favourite smell?
DR: I love the smell of vanilla.
Q: What’s your ultimate comfort food?
DR: Obviously chocolate and ice cream.
Q: What’s the first thing you do when you get home after a race?
DR: I throw my suitcase on the floor and go straight to the fridge to search for food. I then sit on the couch and watch TV. A perfect couch potato!
Q: Q: What scares you?
DR: Sharks and snakes.
Q: What tastes like home?
DR: Sun and fresh air - and the smell of the ocean. I live just five minutes from the ocean and I enjoy it every time I take a deep breath of the ocean air.
Q: If you had to stay in one place for the rest of your life, where would it be?
DR: Home. Australia.
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