When off the track, Formula 1 drivers are known to drive fancy-schmancy cars to match their fancy-schmancy girlfriends. It’s a trend that’s been embedded into the F1 paddock since the inception of the sport. This makes it extra refreshing when a top-flight driver opts for something more, say, proletarian. Something like an American pickup truck. Unsurprisingly, fan-favorite racing driver Daniel Ricciardo is such a person, because his favorite ride happens to be a Ford F-150 Raptor.
Speaking to The Drive‘s Social Media Editor Maddox Kay in New York City, Ricciardo—who is now a reserve driver at Red Bull after being cut prematurely from McLaren—expressed his love for the popular pickup.
“From a vehicle point of view, the Raptor is maybe the coolest car I’ve ever owned,” Ricciardo told The Drive.
This is quite a statement considering Ricciardo has had the chance to play with (and own) many fine-pedigree automobiles over the course of his F1 career. From Aston DB11s to McLaren Arturas—and oh, a brief stint in Renault Clios—the smilin’ Australian has hooned them all. But to him, none hoon quite like a Raptor.
“I got the Raptor in 2017 and I keep it in California,” added Ricciardo. “I actually bought the Raptor before I bought a house [there]. Since I was young I loved them. We couldn’t get the Raptors in Australia and me and my friends just love utes and trucks and hoped one day we could get one. When I started spending more time in California I was like, I need to buy one. I actually kept it at my mate’s house for like a year.”
The Red Bull driver didn’t go into detail about his truck, but given his employer’s new partnership with Ford, something tells me he might trade in that 2017 for a new one. In fact, we now know Ricciardo’s actually driven a new Raptor—likely a Raptor R—after commenting on the Instagram post of his good friend Dax Shepard.
“Dude I drove one yesterday!! Soo good! I’m excited for you. I’m excited for us. Pick me up later,” commented Ricciardo on a photo of Shepard’s own Raptor R.
Perhaps it’s not a matter of if he’ll get a new Raptor, but what color?
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