Starting this blog the right way: As a Danny Ric fan you’re used to two things - laughing and crying. This one belongs to the latter.
It was the day of Daniel Ricciardos 29th birthday, it was my third Austrian GP in a row. The weather was awesome, I had the perfect view over the circuit and I really enjoyed myself. And then it happened. His freakin car (later in the season we found out that it was cursed - I hope RBR burned it in hell) stoped right in front of my grandstand. Before the the race, my roommate made a joke about exactly that situation. And then it really happened.
Not gonna lie, I got slightly emotional, also not gonna lie my emotions were maybe blurred by the last beer I drank with my dad to cheer to Danny Rics birthday. (About ten laps later my dad got also emotional, when Hamiltons car decided that it also wants to leave early today.)
Max Verstappen won the race. I don't know if you know - but Austria is close (in dutch measurements) to the Netherlands so the Orange Army is very present at the Austrian GP. It was the first time for Max to win it and they really went crazy! They enjoyed themselves, celebrated, they also frequently drank all the beer away. It was fun to watch, but I was still pretty upset bc of Daniels DNF (and obviously the special place his car choose). So I was sitting there, with my dad and my Number 3 RBR cap, cooling down and also sulking a little bit about the race - when it happened.
A dutch guy saw me sitting with my cap and my empty cup, came over, handed me a beer and started to cheer me up. He told me how much the dutch fans love Ricciardo, that he hopes that he will stay at RBR bc the team wouldn't be the same without him, that he wishes him all the best and that I shouldn't be upset bc he’ll soon be back on the podium.
So, as I mentioned before: as a Daniel Ricciardo fan you're used to two things. This race, back in 2018 had both in it. To me it was the saddest and also happiest memory I have about this sport. Because yes, it was really upsetting to see the car of my most favourite driver breaking down LITERALLY in front of me on his god damn birthday, but it was also the best (personal) memory I have about this sport, bc it showed me that this sport is more than banter and rivalry - it’s about sportsmanship and good vibes.
If you came this far in the text - thx for reading! As a gift you got my most precious F1-memory <3
