A DAY IN THE LIFE OF: F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo

HE might be one of the most interviewed men in Formula 1®, but life in the fast lane hasn’t changed Daniel Ricciardo.

Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo

HE might be one of the most interviewed men in Formula 1®, but life in the fast lane hasn’t changed Daniel Ricciardo.

The down-to-earth Red Bull racer has not only won five F1® races, 27 podiums and our hearts, but he is also an all-around, stand-up bloke. Despite living in Monaco, getting around in an Aston Martin, having 1.2 million followers on Instagram, collaborating with premium Californian headwear label Melin on a limited edition cap and being a global sporting superstar, he is just like any other 28 year old. He enjoys an occasional beer with mates (even if it is from his own brewery in Nice), binge watching shows on Netflix and grabbing an almond milk flat white from his local. Because clearly even Monaco isn’t immune to the hipster coffee culture.

Ahead of this year’s 2018 Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix, we chat to the larrikin Aussie speedster about what’s on his Spotify playlist, his favourite cheat meals, breakfast, brisket and the importance of neck exercises.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FORMULA 1® ONE DRIVER: with Daniel Ricciardo

What time is your alarm set for?

8am but I normally wake up before. I try to wake up naturally, but set an alarm so I don’t sleep in too late. I’ll probably wake up around 7 but set an alarm for 9 just in case – I don’t want the day to get out of control. But do I ever sleep in until 9? Maybe 2 days a year.

Get up straight away or snooze?

Lay in bed for a little bit, especially if I wake up early, and kind of just chill out. I like to go through in my head what I want to get done for the day and set some little mini targets – like what my training program is.

What’s your go-to breakfast?

I like a good protein and fat breakfast so avocado, bacon, eggs and some veggies. I try to get my veggies in early as well, so try to get some spinach or kale in there. I might even eat raw carrots or capsicum. That’s pretty much it.

Eat then head straight to the track? Or do you generally fit in a fitness sesh first?

I don’t normally wake up and eat breakfast straight away. Normally I’ll do a few things first, then typically eat at the track – and breakfast is prepared for me there so it’s one less job I need to do.

It depends – on a race weekend I don’t train much because we’re doing so many other things and the racing is our training.

What do you do to keep fit?

With racing, there’s not one thing you need to be really strong at, it’s a combination. You need a good base of cardio, good core, good neck strength. I think core and neck are the most important, but it’s certainly not my favourite. Neck training is pretty boring.

Do you have a favourite workout?

I like my cardio stuff because I make it fun. I can mountain bike for four hours and it won’t even feel like a workout because it’s fun and you’re in a new environment, like a forest or somewhere, so that’s cool.

Do you have to stick to a pretty regimented diet?

It’s up to you and depends how healthy you want to live. I guess the main thing we all need to stick to is a diet that doesn’t allow us to put on too much weight because it’s quite a lightweight sport. Fortunately, I like my veggies and generally eat fairly healthy while watching how much I eat because I have to try and stay light. I’m not counting calories but not overeating for the sake of eating.

If you’re prepping for a meet, how many hours a day do you spend at the track?

From Thursday to Sunday we’re spending easily 10 hours a day at the track.

What’s your daily routine like when you’re at home in Monaco?

Wake up, try and do a little bit of a workout or some movement just to get everything circulating, get on the foam roller or something just loosen up the body. Then I’ll have some breakfast. While breakfast settles, I might make some phone calls back home to Australia as it’s a good time with the time difference then. Then I’ll do some training. Come home, have lunch and chill out after lunch - maybe take an hour off just doing nothing – listening to some podcasts, catching up on some UFC news. Then another training session in the afternoon. Get back, maybe answer some emails and then chill out for the rest of the night, have dinner and watch TV or something.

What’s on your Spotify playlist at the moment?

What isn’t? I’ve got pretty much everything. I’ve been interested in finding some new hip hop lately - some less popular rappers so that’s been quite fun. I’ve been on a little journey discovering some new ones. Heard a guy the other day called Collaborate (sic)– he was pretty good.

How do you take your coffee/tea?

Tea is normally a mint or a green tea.
Coffee – I’ll have an almond milk flat white, thank you very much.

Food you love to eat when you’re in Melbourne?

I have had some really good hamburgers in Melbourne.

If you could compete against any F1®driver (past or present) – who would it be?

[Ayrton] Senna.

When you’re not driving an F1® car, what do you like to get around in?

In Monaco, a Vespa, because it’s easy, convenient and the streets are narrow and small. And it’s fun. I guess if I am going to jump in a car and drive somewhere – If I’m going to drive to the Blue Coast Brewery in Nice – I’ll take my Aston Martin.

Beer you’re loving at the moment?

Is that a piss take? (laughs). Last year I started up a craft brewery with Jensen (Button) and a few other guys in Monaco called Blue Coast. We do quite a few ranges at the moment, but probably the blond and the amber ales are my two favourites.

TV series you’re obsessed with at the moment?

I just finished a show on Netflix called Manhunt: Unabomber with fellow Perthian Sam Worthington. I thought that was really good so hats off, Sambo.

Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla.

A FEW OF YOUR FAVOURITE THINGS:

Favourite sport to watch (outside of F1®)?

UFC. UFC. (chanting). I listen to every press interview and podcast. I am actually obsessed.

Favourite race track?

Monaco. But my favourite non- F1® track would be Macau.

Favourite thing to cook for dinner?

I don’t really cook much to be honest. But my favourite thing to eat for dinner? I’ll say ribs. Yeah, beef ribs are really good. Or brisket. Thanks, Austin.

Favourite road-trip destination?

Great Ocean Road in Australia or Pacific Coast Hwy in California.

Favourite movie?

There are so many, but I’ll name two because I can’t be greedy: Dumb and Dumber and Friday Night Lights.

Favourite song to belt out in the car?

Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show.

Favourite cheat meal/treat?

Hamburgers or a fried chicken burger. I’ve found a few good fried chicken burgers in this world and that is one of my favourite meals to eat. My favourite treat would be ice cream. One thing I’ve done in the past – I won’t say lately – is I’ll buy a tub of like, vanilla Haagen-Dazs and get some Nutella and just mix it through it so I have my own homemade Nutella ice cream. I can dictate the ratio, which is a beautiful thing.

Favourite thing about being an F1® driver?

Probably the destinations I have got to visit, the travel. We don’t always go to the most glamorous places, but [F1®] has taken me to some places that I never would have thought of going. The best example is Austin [Texas]. I didn’t know much about Austin before I went there for a race. Would I have ever gone to Austin? Maybe I would have for South by Southwest or some of the music festivals, but it has turned into one of my favourite cities in the world.

Originally published as A DAY IN THE LIFE OF: F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo