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Daniel Ricciardo adopted an iconic F1 nickname during his early seasons in the sport, and was known as the ‘honey badger’.
Daniel Ricciardo has explained the backstory of his ‘honey badger’ nickname, which he carried throughout his Formula 1 career. Initially joining F1 with HRT in 2011 before moving to Toro Rosso for two seasons, Ricciardo found his stride at Red Bull from 2014 to 2018, showcasing his fearless racing style. The moniker ‘honey badger’ was inspired by the mammal known for its fierceness against predators, reflecting Ricciardo’s own resilience on the track. Ricciardo humorously described the honey badger as cuddly yet ready to fight back, embracing it as his alter ego while racing. Since leaving Red Bull after the 2018 season, Ricciardo has continued to hone his competitive edge, crediting a former trainer for helping him unleash his killer instinct on the track. Despite his laid-back demeanor off-track, Ricciardo acknowledged the importance of channeling a tougher mentality while racing to prove his mettle among his F1 peers.
