Between the lines at the Italian Grand Prix

Motor Racing - Formula One World Championship - Italian Grand Prix - Preparation Day - Monza, Italy

Daniel Ricciardo

The Question: Daniel, you obviously come from an Italian family that emigrated to Australia. When you come here how Italian do you feel and how have the Italians welcomed you in the last few days during all the various promotional activities you’ve been doing?

What Daniel said:

DR: It’s always a warm welcome here, for sure. The fans are… I’ve always said it, they’re passionate; they’re full on but they’re great. They love the sport, they love getting close and having their moment and stuff. It’s pretty cool walking into the paddock. It creates a bit of a road block but… I think it’s the craziest paddock entrance we go to all year in terms of the fans spreading their love, but it's nice. I remember the warm-up lap here last year, I think I crossed the second Lesmo and there was a flare blowing across the track… it’s unique, so it’s cool.

What he might have meant to say:

DR: Awww mate, I feel about as Italian as Dolmio pasta sauce. You’re right though, it’s a bit mental here in terms of how the fans react but I just dip into the old Eyetie phrasebook and it’s all good. I just say “Si, si, buongiorno, come stai, molto bene, Versace, Del Piero, Mirafiori. Si, si I’d better be going, Arrivabene to one and all.” No worries.