Ricciardo says the shoey began as a message to friends in Australia

The shoey became a defining part of Daniel Ricciardo's Formula 1 career, but began, he says, as a message to friends watching in Australia. He traces it to the podium after his second place at the 2016 German Grand Prix, and says he never expected it to become a recurring ritual.

Ricciardo expected his friends to text him that he had done it for Australia, and said he wanted to show his own pride in being Australian. He also recalled a group in Australia who did the shoey often and had a strong social-media presence; Australian sports figures and celebrities took it up too. He felt part of Australia was beginning to claim the celebration.

That was not his only motive. Ricciardo wanted to loosen a sport he felt was stiff and overly serious. He sometimes saw drivers looking miserable on the podium, though he understood that disappointment when someone lost a win on the final lap. “I felt like the tie was choking everyone,” he said.

The celebration later drew others in. Ricciardo said actor Patrick Stewart asked to join after the 2017 Canadian Grand Prix; he also said Lewis Hamilton eventually did a shoey after previously saying he would not.