MIAMI — Daniel Ricciardo‘s smile has never looked wider. With country music blaring from the onboard speakers of his personal watercraft, the eight-time grand prix winner joins ESPN out on the open water with sun on his skin and sea water in his hair.
Over 300 metres from the shoreline, it’s one of the more unusual interview locations for both driver and reporter, but there couldn’t be a more fitting backdrop ahead of Formula One’s inaugural race in Miami.
“Pretty cool, huh?” he tells ESPN as he shuts off the engine and we bob up and down in the turquoise waters. “This is a first for me as well.”
When we talk, there’s five days to go until race day and Ricciardo has spent the morning ripping his new ride around a small island in Miami’s Biscayne Bay.
It’s a mix of work and play as he takes direction from a film crew on a boat, who are capturing footage for an upcoming product launch for Sea-Doo — a manufacturer of 300-brake-horsepower playthings for the water. Ricciardo is the new face of the brand, and today is all about securing imagery of sun, sea and smiles in a postcard-perfect setting.
Ricciardo’s aquatic playground is a lagoon located between Miami Beach and the downtown area. The calm and clear waters have been closed off to the public by the local sheriff so the McLaren driver can let loose, and so far he’s not been holding back.
After over a decade in Formula One, Ricciardo is no stranger to adrenaline, but he’s clearly still buzzing when it comes to interview time midway through the morning. His usual ride — a 1000-brake-horsepower F1 car — subjects his body to five times the force of gravity through high-speed corners, but after driving it for 11 years, he’s somewhat used to that.
Being on the water, however, is a new kind of thrill.
“I was building my confidence out there, but I had to tell myself, ‘Don’t get too confident’ because I still don’t really know what I’m doing!
“It definitely scared me a bit. I think it’s because being on the water…
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