Ricciardo reveals change of mindset: 'I'd rather crash than not try the overtakes'
F1 News
Daniel Ricciardo is known for his brave overtaking moves. Perhaps not so much in his Renault, but during the final few years of his career at Red Bull. He reveals his secrets behind a mindset change he made.
The Australian revealed this mindset change came about when he was christened with the nicknamed the 'honey badger'. A small animal which never avoids any fights.
"The reason for me putting myself out there and changing my approach for racing and being aggressive was there were too many times throughout my whole career where I would leave the track on a Sunday night feeling sorry for myself, basically leaving with regrets," Ricciardo said while appearing on Nico Rosberg's Beyond Victory podcast.
“When I adopted the Honey Badger, I made that pact to myself that I would rather try and fail to try and potentially crash than not try at all. I can live with myself so much better if I have a go and I think also the people around me unless I’m being reckless, they’re going to respect me.
“Once I started getting it, your confidence builds and you have the confidence to keep doing it. It feels good. It feels great."
During his time at Red Bull, Ricciardo was famous for coming from the back of the grid to produce the race victory. In China, he climbed through the field in the final few laps. There's no doubt this mentality helped on that occasion.