Daniel Ricciardo apologises to F1 for "f***ing idiots" jibe

Ricciardo, BahrianGP, McLaren — Photo: © LAT Images

Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo apologises to F1 for "f***ing idiots" jibe

McLaren driver was highly critical of an F1 video

Ian Parkes

Thursday 15 April 2021 17:27

Daniel Ricciardo has apologised for his "choice of words" after accusing Formula 1's social media editors of being "f***ing idiots".

In an interview with 'square mile', the McLaren driver was highly critical of F1's social channels for posting a 'Top 10 most dramatic moments of 2020 F1 season' video at the end of last year that included six major incidents.

In the article, Ricciardo said: "I think last year, F1 put on their social channels, like, 'top 10 moments of the year' or something and eight of the 10 were crashes.

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"I was just like, you guys are f***ing idiots. Maybe 12-year-old kids want to see that kind of content, and that's cool because they don't know any better, but we're not kids. Just do better, guys. Do better than that."

Reflecting on his remarks ahead of this weekend's Emilia Romagna GP, Ricciardo now appreciates his use of bad language was uncalled for.

"I've certainly got to be better with my choice of words," said Ricciardo.

"If I could take that quote back, I would. It was too aggressive. I should know better being in the sport as long as I have.

"And even if I feel at the time it might be out of context, that it's going to get pushed, I should do better than that."

Ricciardo, who was also heavily condemnatory of F1 last season for the volume of replays shown after Roman Grosjean's fiery crash in Bahrain, is adamant that his overall comment over the top-10 moments video still stands.

"I think taking that direct comment away from it, what I'm trying to get at, I feel like last year was such an amazing example for F1, there were so many different podium getters, a lot of exciting races," added Ricciardo. "I certainly wouldn't put it under a boring season.

"I just felt there was more room to expose the highs of the sport, and let's say, the great achievements of a lot of individual drivers and individual performances, whether some spectacular overtakes or...

"I felt there were better stories to be told as opposed to just crashes, and this is obviously my opinion, but I feel our sport is better than that. I feel we're better than just showing crashes. We're above that.

"We're the most talented drivers in the world and we're driving these amazing cars. Normally a crash is showing less of our talents.

"It's probably the way the sport is perceived and we are perceived as drivers. We absolutely make mistakes, but I would probably highlight the highs more if I had creative control.

"I don't know if every driver feels like that, but it's how I feel. I would, if I could..I've apologised, but I would take back, at least the language from those comments."