Ricciardo says his playful celebrations made F1 more fun

Daniel Ricciardo says his playful celebrations were a deliberate response to what he saw as Formula 1’s serious, sometimes stiff atmosphere — and that he believed they made the sport more fun for people around him.

In an interview looking back on his career, the eight-time Grand Prix winner recalled seeing drivers on podiums who looked unhappy. He wanted to bring something different to the sport: F1 was serious, he said, but “we can still make it fun.”

That idea showed up in the shoey, when Ricciardo drank champagne from his race boot, and in his belly flop into the pool after winning the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix. He said the silliness made him relatable and made the sport more enjoyable for others around him.

Ricciardo said the fun still needed to be backed by results. He added that there was a time and place for the celebrations, and that he felt the team appreciated them.