Ricciardo plays down his latest secret F1 helmet code

Ricciardo plays down his latest secret F1 helmet code
3 June 2022 by    2 min read
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Jun.3 - McLaren is preparing to trigger a clause that will cut Daniel Ricciardo loose of his Formula 1 contract for 2023, according to one of two Australian world champions.

Alan Jones, who won the title in 1980, suspects recent statements made by McLaren CEO Zak Brown indicate the Woking based team is eyeing a more competitive driver for the seat alongside Lando Norris next year.

Ricciardo, 32, insisted in Monaco that his current deal does extend into 2023 - with sources indicating that only the Australian himself can end the deal before it naturally expires late next year.

2009 world champion Jenson Button thinks Brown's statements about Ricciardo have been astonishing.

"Zak is his own man and I can't change his thoughts and what he says, but I was surprised that he came out and said that," he told Sky.

"Everyone with the team should be protecting these drivers."

With the rumours already swirling as he arrived in Monaco, eagle-eyed spectators saw the new acronym "FEA" had suddenly appeared on Ricciardo's helmet livery.

Ricciardo did not deny that it stands for "F*** 'Em All".

"I had that on my helmet back in 2018," he explained to the German broadcaster RTL.

"I like using acronyms to motivate myself - it's honestly not aimed at anyone. It's something I've been saying for years and it puts me in my happy place.

"It reminds me to get into the tunnel and my zone."

Countryman Alan Jones, however, clearly thinks it's a sign that fellow world champion Jacques Villeneuve's suspicions are right that Ricciardo's time at McLaren "is over".

"If he doesn't improve quickly, I don't see him there much longer, to be honest," Jones told the Herald Sun newspaper.

As for the supposed 2023 contract, the 75-year-old added: "A contract doesn't mean much in Formula 1.

"If the situation stays like this, I have no doubt that McLaren will pull one of the options in the contract."

Ricciardo won eight grands prix during his competitive stint at Red Bull, but since leaving that team and moving on to Renault and now McLaren, his star has faded dramatically.

"He's a great racer and a nice guy, but we all know that nice guys don't get anywhere in Formula 1," said Jones.

"If you're a bigger d***, you're better off and there are quite a few drivers in Formula 1 at the moment that prove it."

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24 F1 Fan comments on “Ricciardo plays down his latest secret F1 helmet code”

  1. Michael Schwartz

    Australia's only world champion Alan Jones? Who was champion in 1959, 1960 and 1966? Sir jack brabham of...Australia.

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  3. Yrjo E. Veltheim

    Seems to me that most F1 teams will let the driver get away with many things but consistently wrecking does not seem to be one of them. Add really poor performance and lack of loyalty on top of that and I am surprised that McLaren hired DR in the first place. He should probably try NASCAR where wrecking is encouraged.

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  4. who_cares

    apparently danny ric can break the contract but mclaren cant

    that's why zak's throwing him under the bus to try get him to quit

    i foresee him saying fire me (and pay me) or f.o.

    2023 will be the honey badgers last unless alfa or hass take a flyer on him

    sad way to end a once promising career but it is what it is

    as i said before

    so long and thanks for all the fish

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      • who_cares

        herta

        possibly o'ward

        maybe piastri if nando continues at alpine

        i'd even take nando himself for his experience to pair with lando

        it's risky to pair 2 pups together when you need to develop a car and lando nando just rolls off the tongue

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  7. Donalf

    I can't honestly believe that FEA means what you all say it means, why would Ricardo display that on his helmet, he had a good time whilst at red bull and he was the one who decided to leave to better himself but its all gone egg-shaped for him that's his problem no body else's so why would he say that. "stupid"

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      • Donalf

        I can understand it coming from VB as he had a lot to put up with at mercedes but its a bit different for Dr he only has himself to blame if he couldn't master the car, to be fair he's driving like a new kid on the block and nowhere near Lando so I just don't get why he would take that approach.

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        • f1award

          VB had several seasons over the years in the top car with no teams orders unless he was a long way behind in the points table. He wasn't a particular great n2 either as, compared to the likes of Perez, he never put up a fight when acting as a wingman.

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    • Nobodysperfect

      Looking back it's easy. The Honey Badger never should have left Red Bull. I think if he had taken on the battle with Verstappen, he now would have won much more trophies and would be a much better driver.

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        • smokey

          Max was prepared to take poorly judged risks with bash and barge that DR would not, hence Max was given the names Vercrashen and Versmashen in the early part of his career. Hopefully, he has now passed that phase.

  9. Les

    I see Brundle describes RIC as a world class driver, but taking his petsonality into account. There was never such assessments made of Mark Webber who had 9 wins 42 podiums more than RIC , and Webber was in contention for 2010 WDC at last race. Please F1 journos do your job properly and make an objective assessment of RIC driving ability. He is a good driver not a great driver. And stop listening to RIC talking himself up.

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