Daniel Ricciardo slams 'misconception' about F1 drivers

Daniel Ricciardo returns to Red Bull — Photo: © LAT Images

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Ricciardo hits back at key F1 driver 'misconception'

The Australian driver firmly believes F1 competitors should be considered athletes

Cal Gaunt

Tuesday 10 October 2023 22:27

Daniel Ricciardo's 'high-performance athlete' quote is of course one of his most famous – and now he's doubled down after being asked if F1 drivers really can be considered athletes.

It's a debate that's raged for decades, particularly in the world of sports (or games) such as snooker and darts. Are they really sports? And are those who compete in them really athletes?

That's for others to argue about, but AlphaTauri driver Ricciardo firmly believes that he and his F1 counterparts are undeniably athletes.

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Drivers must possess exceptional strength and endurance to endure the intense cockpit heat and maintain control of their vehicles at speeds exceeding 200mph.

Ricciardo believes there's a common misconception about F1 drivers' athletic prowess

Ricciardo: We don't have the biggest muscles

To meet the demands of the sport, they adhere to rigorous training routines that include strength training, core conditioning, flexibility exercises and cardiovascular workouts.

So, when the question was put to him during an interview with crypto company OKX, Ricciardo made his position on the matter clear.

Life’s full of misconceptions. That’s why I sat down with my good friend @scottyjames31 to set the record straight! From crypto all the way to racing, @okx present “What The Flip?!” pic.twitter.com/pYKfTNnmuV
— Daniel Ricciardo (@danielricciardo) October 6, 2023