F1: Daniel Ricciardo breaks drought with Eifel Grand Prix podium finish
Daniel Ricciardo has broken through to finally score a podium finish – and it means team principal Cyril Abiteboul has to get a tattoo as a result.
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Aussie Daniel Ricciardo has reached a massive milestone in his Renault career in a brilliant drive at the Eifel Grand Prix, hanging on to third in a thrilling finish.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher’s all-time race wins record with 91 but the Aussie ended plenty of pain with a stunning drive behind second-placed Max Verstappen.
It’s been a long time coming for Ricciardo, who claimed his first podium since the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix when he won in a Red Bull.
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It’s been much longer for Renault, whose last podium was at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix when Nick Heidfeld finished third.
“Is that a podium boys?” Ricciardo said over team radio. “Is that a f***ing podium?”
His engineer replied: “That’s a f***ing podium, good job Daniel.”
“Good job Daniel,” team principal Cyril Abiteboul said. “Thank you.”
Ricciardo’s podium also saw him win his bet with Abiteboul – who promised to get a tattoo when the drought was broken.
“It’s real – it’s going to happen,” Ricciardo said. “We’ll have to do some thinking now. Probably something to do with me but with a German flavour. This is the place we did it, so a little tip of the hat to something traditional in Germany as well.”
Bring on the tattoo
Before the race Ricciardo said he was more confident than ever of scoring a breakthrough podium for Renault this year as he plotted imposing his trademark Honey Badger on a tattoo design for team boss Cyril Abiteboul.
In his final season at Renault ahead of his move to McLaren in 2021, Ricciardo has edged close to a podium with three fourth-place finishes – at the British, Belgian and Tuscan Grand Prix – so far this year.
In his past four races, his worst result was at the Italian Grand Prix when he finished sixth.
Ricciardo has a bet with Abiteboul for the team principal to get a tattoo if the Australian star succeeds in delivering the team’s first podium since rejoining Formula One in 2016.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, Ricciardo said he was making the podium breakthrough before the 2020 season was out.
While Abiteboul was initially anxious about the prospect of a tattoo, Ricciardo said he had warmed to the idea of ink as the team edged closer to a top-three finish.
“At first, I think he was very nervous and now I would say I’ve never seen someone look so excited at the thought of getting a tattoo,” Ricciardo said in an interview with Motorsport Australia.
“Obviously it’s been a little talking point and it’s been exciting to think about the idea of it happening.
“We have come close and I really believe … if I keep going at this level – and I know the team is doing their part – but if I remain consistent driving at the level which I know I am at the moment, then I do believe we will get an opportunity (to podium), something will arise.
“If I’m doing what I’m doing now, I’ll put myself in a position to take it before the year is out. I’ve just got to keep it up.
“For us this year has been awesome, it is what we really expected by year two and now it’s coming through nicely.”
Under the conditions of the bet, Abiteboul gets to decide the size and placement of the tattoo, while Ricciardo chooses the design.
The seven-time Grand Prix winner hasn’t decided what design, he likes the idea of his nickname – the Honey Badger – making an appearance.
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“The coolest thing in a way is some form of Honey Badger, but we will see,” Ricciardo said.
“I kind of figured, obviously if it does happen, probably the track we do it at or the country we are in, it could be symbolic for something.
“Or it might be something ‘Oh, that marks the spot here’ so lets get that.”