Kyle Sandilands pays for not doing research on Daniel Ricciardo’s relationship status

IT DOESN’T get more awkward than this. Kyle Sandilands failed to do his research on F1 star Daniel Ricciardo’s relationship status.

SINCE emerging as one of the biggest stars in Australian sport, Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo has been notoriously reluctant to discuss his private life.

Fans of the Red Bull ace knew he’d been in a relationship with high school sweetheart Jemma Boskovich for most of his adult life, but Ricciardo rarely spoke about her.

Before the start of this season word emerged that the pair had split. The breakup appeared to be confirmed in an awkward post-race press conference at the Hungarian GP where rival driver Lewis Hamilton outed Ricciardo as a single man.

“For some reason Hungary just has an abundance of beautiful women,” Hamilton told the media. “So it’s perfect for us (pointing at Ricciardo), we’re single. Not so much for Nico (Rosberg), but we enjoy it.”

But two months on from that revelation, word of the 27-year-old’s relationship status is still yet to reach the ears of radio host Kyle Sandilands.

Ricciardo made an appearance on KIIS 1065’s Kyle and Jackie O on Tuesday morning and became trapped in an awkward conversation for a man in his situation.

Asked by Jackie O if he’d ever visited the private Fijian island owned by Red Bull’s billionaire founder Dietrich Mateschitz, Ricciardo said he’d been invited but was yet to make the trip.

“I know why,” Sandilands interjected. “Because Daniel’s with his high school sweetheart. He’s not like the rest of these F1 drivers who are banging Rihanna and Pussycat Dolls. He’s a decent bloke. He’s with the same bird since he’s been at school.”

Ricciardo appeared to make an attempt to rein Sandilands in, but the shock jock ploughed on. “Whether he regrets it or not, I don’t know. But what a gentleman. Because most guys would get famous — world fame like this, being an F1 driver that’s nothing to sneeze at — and see all his mates taking off with superstars, and then he’s got to go home and mow the lawn like any other Aussie. Is that right, Daniel?”

“Ah, this is awkward,” Ricciardo responded.

“Why, you haven’t split up have you? Don’t tell me that,” Jackie O said.

“It’s all good,” Ricciardo said. “Next subject.”

‘Doesn’t anyone do their research?’

From there the interview went to wonderful places like what Ricciardo does if he needs to use the bathroom during a race.

“You go before you get in the car, Jackie!” Sandilands interjected. “This is what no women ever understand.”

“The hot races are fine,” Ricciardo said. “We go at the last minute before the race to try not to get the urge during the race. And because we’re quite dehydrated during the race because of the sweat and that, we don’t get the urge.”

Jackie O: “Oh yeah, OK.”

Ricciardo: “If you ever had to go it would be really hard because it’s really tight in the seat and to actually push it out would be a bit difficult.”

Sandilands: “Oh God, imagine that. We’re talking about number ones here, not number twos, right?”

Ricciardo: “Number ones.”

Sandilands: “Yeah right, sorry. When you said ‘push it out’, I thought ...”

To be fair, the duo also covered off on this weekend’s Singapore GP but it certainly wasn’t the interview Ricciardo was expecting when he called in. Or maybe it was.