Ricciardo shares the advice he received from..............

Ricciardo shares the advice he received from Jackie Stewart in 2014

Daniel Ricciardo has recently been reflecting on some sage advice he received from Sir Jackie Stewart back in 2014, a pivotal year in his Formula 1 career when he made his debut with the Red Bull Racing team. This year marked a significant turning point for the Australian driver, who had spent two years racing for Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s junior team, before being promoted to replace the retiring Mark Webber and partner with the four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Ricciardo’s debut season with the leading team proved to be highly successful. He not only outperformed Vettel but also clinched three race victories and secured a total of eight podium finishes, finishing third in the World Championship standings. Speaking with Sky Sports F1 after the recent Singapore Grand Prix—his final race for the team, as confirmed shortly thereafter—Ricciardo reminisced about a memorable encounter with Stewart during that breakthrough year.

Recalling the moment, Ricciardo said, “I remember actually it was here in 2014 – that was my breakthrough year, and Sir Jackie Stewart called me in the lobby and I remember he said something to me.” Stewart had reached out to Ricciardo, offering his support, saying, “Look, if you ever want to talk, let me know because it won’t always be as easy as it seems.” At the time, Ricciardo was riding a wave of success and couldn’t quite grasp the essence of Stewart’s advice. “He was kind of just preparing me for the lows,” he explained, acknowledging that although he didn’t win the championship that year, everything felt relatively straightforward for him.

Initially, Ricciardo found it hard to understand Stewart’s caution. “So when he told me, I was like, ‘I’m good, what are you talking about? I’m not struggling, I’m not intimidated by anyone, what is this?’” His confidence and optimism were high, but the realities of Formula 1 were about to teach him a different lesson. The subsequent season, 2015, proved to be a challenging one for Ricciardo. He failed to secure a single victory and ended the year ranked eighth in the championship standings, a stark contrast to his earlier success. It was during this tough season that Ricciardo finally recognized the wisdom behind Stewart’s words.

“Even the following year, 2015, was a tough year, and I immediately realised what he was talking about,” Ricciardo reflected. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced mindset in the sport. “I think the best approach is to never get too high, try not to get too low, and just try to ride