McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo has explained the reason he donned a helmet with the message “f*** ’em all” during the Monaco Grand Prix last weekend.
The Australian has struggled this season with McLaren and has not been able to recreate his form from when he drove at Red Bull. His McLaren team-mate Lando Norris is having a better time of it this term.
Ricciardo has endured a challenging year, with McLaren blowing hot and cold. The Australian is down in 11th in the Drivers’ Championship standings, 37 points below his team-mate.
Norris is in seventh position on 48 points, and has adopted the mantle of team leader.
Ricciardo’s highest finish this term was his home Grand Prix, where he finished sixth. Besides that points finish in Melbourne, he has finished outside the points in every other race this season.
Zak Brown comments on Daniel Ricciardo’s future
Before the Monaco Grand Prix, McLaren team principal, Zak Brown, commented on Ricciardo’s future.
Brown explained: “Daniel is just not comfortable yet with the car. We’re trying everything we can.
“I think all you can do is keep working hard as a team, keep communications going, keep pushing and hope that whatever is not kind of clicking at the moment clicks shortly.”
He also praised Norris: “I think Lando is one of the best drivers in the world at the moment, and I think it is also kind of a compliment to how good Lando is when you see the gap [between Norris and Ricciardo] that exists.”
Further pressure has been landed on Ricciardo in the form of IndyCar stars Colton Herta and Pato O’Ward. The pair have recently signed new deals with McLaren, and have both indicated their desire to step into F1 in the future.
O’Ward finished second in last weekend’s Indy 500, which was won by ex-F1 driver Marcus Ericsson. Herta, meanwhile, won the previous race on the Indianapolis road course.
Daniel Ricciardo wears controversial helmet
At the Monaco Grand Prix last weekend, Ricciardo attracted attention for his helmet. The headwear, inscribed with the initials ‘FEA’ turned heads.
Now, following the race weekend at the iconic circuit, the Australian has explained the reasoning behind his helmet choice.
He stressed that it was not directed at anyone and was simply a message of motivation for himself.
“I put it on my helmet in 2018 as well,” he stressed (quotes via Autosport). “I like to use acronyms to pump me up. It’s honestly not directed at anyone, it’s something that I’ve said for a few years, and it just kind of gets me in my happy place.
“I think as well, as a driver, you put the helmet on, and that’s also very significant of flipping the switch. It’s one of the last things I’ll see when I put the helmet on.
“So it reminds me to channel in and get into the zone.”
The Australian will undoubtedly hope for an uplift in the coming races as F1 continues the European leg of the season.
Featured Image Credit: Getty