Feature by Daniel Ricciardo
Western Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo is the charmer of the global Formula 1 (F1) scene - the happy guy on the grid, with the instantly recognisable smile.
Daniel’s story is one of adventure.
He began karting at aged nine, and by age 16, Daniel was winning races across Asia, making his F1 debut in 2011.
In the last decade, Daniel has featured on the podium more than 30 times, across a career spanning with McLaren, Renault and Red Bull positioning him as the most popular driver among F1 fans.
As the face of Western Australia’s global road trips campaign, Daniel talks about his love for his home state and shares some of his best tips for a WA road trip to remember.
1. On your road trip, you hit the open road with Blake and left the everyday behind. Tell us more about the sense of freedom you experienced and how you disconnected to reconnect?
No matter what I say here, it won’t do it justice, I’ll try (laughs) but yeah it needs to be experienced firsthand.
It sounds simple but it’s just beautifully empty once you hit that road, you get this sense of peacefulness because you feel alone, but in the best possible way. Combine that with no phone signal and you have that feeling of being truly disconnected, and it’s a powerful thing. So many of us want that exact sensation, genuine time with your own thoughts, no notifications or emails and away from the hustle and bustle of a major city, that’s literally what I felt on the open road. It made me connect with myself, with Blake, it was perfect.
Hutt Lagoon, near Port Gregory
2. Why is a road trip in Western Australia such a dream?
I’ve spent so much time on flights that I think it’s made me really appreciate road trips and the fun you can have actually heading to the destination. Being able to do this in Western Australia was the icing on the cake.
Obviously work takes me to some amazing places, but it’s just made me appreciate Western Australia even more. We’ve got the best beaches, the best climate, it’s funny I even brag to people about how good our parks are, so being able to see even more of WA got me excited.
3. What was the highlight from your road trip and why?
Don’t make me pick (laughs)! It’s hard to look past swimming with whale sharks at Ningaloo. I was so far out of my comfort zone when we jumped into the water, but you then see a whale shark for the first time and it’s so peaceful, it really is just a unique experience.
For me though the real highlight was just doing this road trip this adventure, with a best mate. Blake and I have been friends since we were kid’ s go-karting, but that was also the last time we hit the road together in Western Australia. We saw all these amazing landscapes and did these crazy activities on the trip, but just being able to spend that time together to catch up, laugh and just reminisce was really the highlight.
Daniel swimming with a Whale Shark, Ningaloo
4. What WA experience is still on your bucket list and why?
To be honest I had such a blast on the road trip, I want to do another one!
Just being on the road with that feeling of adventure is addictive. Now that I’ve been able to experience up north, I’d love to hit the road and head down south in Western Australia. I’ve really only gone as far as Margaret River so there is still plenty of coastline and forest that I want to explore.
5. Best road trip advice for those wanting to explore Western Australia? Any ‘must haves’?
My advice would be to follow our road trip stop-for-stop, it was perfect. There you go, we’ve saved everyone months of planning, all sorted!
In all seriousness, there are a few things I would definitely recommend, some general advice and then some definite must-haves. For me the beauty of a road trip is being able to move at your own pace, so build in some flexibility that lets you stay that little bit longer on the beach, or lets you turn down that road off the map or stay another night in a town you like. Being able to explore and just have that freedom is the best feeling.
There are a few non-negotiable, absolute must haves for a road trip though, trust me on these ones. Most importantly, that person in the passenger seat - someone you can talk to, laugh with and even have silence with, that’s the big one. Next up are snacks. I’m talking Tiny Teddies, Pizza Shapes, Strawberries n’ Creams, and all those goodies - make sure you’re stocked. For me the final two are a playlist - one that just helps you get through the miles; and then swim shorts - always have them handy.
6. What do you think makes Western Australia such a unique holiday destination?
I’m probably a little biased (laughs) but I feel like Western Australia has everything. The landscape alone puts a smile on my face. You have this crazy vast, open outback that’s dry and a little rough, but then a hundred metres later you come across these pristine beaches that are unlike anything else. You’ve then got towering forests and world class wineries down south, everything you see just seems unique and untouched, I love it.
On the road trip, we had this amazing experience with with Darren ‘Capes’ Capewell in Shark Bay. Capes is a descendant of the Nhanda and Malgana people and his emphasis was not only connecting with each other but connecting with the land itself. For me that is what makes Western Australia such a great destination, you just feel connected.
Daniel, Blake and Capes gathered around the campfire, Shark Bay
7. What does being West Australian mean to you?
It means home, plain and simple.
This year I’ve actually lived half of my life in Europe and half in Western Australia but it’s made me realise just how much Western Australia means to me.
Yeah, we’re a little quieter than the east coast, but I’m genuinely so proud of where I come from and what we have to offer.
My mates in Europe are probably sick of me saying it, but I’m always telling them ‘come to Western Australia, we’ve got this, we’ve got that’ but I just get so proud of sharing my home with them, it means everything to me.
Eagle Bay, Dunsborough
Published September 2023.