How Dale Earnhardt is playing a role in a Formula 1 bet
By Asher Fair
Daniel Ricciardo has a new incentive to finish on the podium in his first Formula 1 season with McLaren thanks to team CEO Zak Brown.
Throughout the 2020 Formula 1 season, there was an ongoing bet between Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo and Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul that if Ricciardo managed to finish on the podium, which hadn’t been done by any Renault driver since 2011, Abiteboul would get a tattoo.
Ricciardo eventually secured the team’s first podium finish in nine seasons in the 11th of 17 races on the 2020 schedule, the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in October.
He finished that race in third place, and he added another third place finish two races later in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Autodromo Internazional Enzo e Dino Ferrari in November.
The 31-year-old Australian may be with a new team this year, but he will have another interesting incentive to score a podium finish in 2021.
More from Formula One
- Formula 1: Top Red Bull threat identified for 2024
- Formula 1: Why the Max Verstappen retirement obsession?
- Formula 1: Williams ‘mistake’ hints Logan Sargeant’s future
- Formula 1 awaiting key confirmation for 2024 season
- Formula 1: The ‘championship’ Max Verstappen only leads by 3 points
Abiteboul may not have paid up on his bet, but this time around, there is a much clearer goal in mind for the seven-time Grand Prix winner and 31-time podium finisher.
A replica of the iconic 1984 #3 Wrangler Chevrolet Monte Carlo, which was driven by legendary seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 76-time race winner Dale Earnhardt, was gifted to Ricciardo by McLaren CEO Zak Brown, and that wasn’t end of the story. Brown told Ricciardo that if he finishes a race on the podium in 2021, he will allow Ricciardo to test out one of Earnhardt’s real #3 cars, as he owns one of them in his personal heritage collection.
Ricciardo was a huge fan of “The Intimidator” growing up, and that is actually one of the reasons why he chose the number 3 to be his number in Formula 1 when the new numbering system was introduced ahead of the 2014 season.
Naturally, he was floored to receive the replica, and he will surely be setting his sights on a top three finish over the course of the next 22 race weekends now more than ever.
We know how much you enjoy a podium bet, @danielricciardo.
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) March 31, 2021
How does a drive of one of THE most iconic cars in @ZBrownCEO’s heritage collection sound? 🤩🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/yj17DLiEjM
Dale Earnhardt Sr's 1984 Wrangler Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
— Zak Brown (@ZBrownCEO) March 31, 2021
Get us that podium and the drive is all yours, @DanielRicciardo. 😉🔑 @DaleJr @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/wyplavg8G3
Dale Earnhardt Jr. responded and loved the idea of the bet.
This is awesome https://t.co/5Z3CpSTRz2
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 31, 2021
Ricciardo finished the 2021 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Speedway in seventh place while teammate Lando Norris finished in fourth, but it was discovered after the race that Ricciardo’s Mercedes-powered McLaren MCL35M had floor damage which hindered his ability to get the most out of it.
Next. Top 25 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark
There’s a chance it won’t be long before Ricciardo gets a test drive in Brown’s Earnhardt car, as the next race on the 2021 schedule is the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, where he most recently finished on the podium last November. This race is set to be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, April 18.