I'm in this sport to win but win by being the best, not by being lucky.
Daniel Ricciardo
Everything you can learn from is an opportunity to become stronger.
In the end, you have to just pull the trigger. Trust the car, trust the brakes, just go.
I will always find a way to find a positive from things.
Music is how I unwind. I love going to see bands or DJs at a festival or a dive bar. My taste is pretty diverse.
I used to go to work with Dad on the weekend. We'd drive past an indoor go-kart track every now and then, and we went there a few times. I was never tall enough, so I always left upset. I think I was seven when I was the right height, and I was like, 'Please let me have a go.' It was love at first sight.
On a bad day, I'll still have a conscious thing in my mind reminding me that what I think of as a bad day is still a very good day in probably 90% of the world's population's eyes.
Formula One was just cool. I loved racing, all types of racing, but from a young age, Formula One was the noise and everything, and that's what I was drawn to. I already knew when I was younger, the coolest guys are in F1... not that NASCAR drivers aren't cool, but that was always what I had in my head!
I love music which helps me get focused and keeps my thoughts away from other things. The music gets heavier as the race gets closer, and my warm up routine starts to get a bit more intense with heart rates, etc.
I know people fear me when they see me in their mirrors. It's a good position to be in because they know they need to defend to the limit.
Pressure's what you make of it.
I'm the most ripped guy on the grid, let's just say that.
With racing, there's not one thing you need to be really strong at, it's a combination. You need a good base of cardio, good core, good neck strength. I think core and neck are the most important, but it's certainly not my favourite. Neck training is pretty boring.
For my family, it was quite emotional because it has always been a dream of mine to be in Formula 1. For them, to see it come true was quite a special feeling.
Pretty much all the drivers I get on with, at least to say 'Hi' and have a conversation. But when the helmet's on, you don't care who it is. You have no sympathy: someone blows an engine in front of you, if it means you gain a position, then you're smiling.
I feel like even if I was to, say, trip and fall over on the way to the car and scratch all my arm, by the time I got in the car, it would be blacked out in my head.
I think once you get into the routine of race weekends, and there's more of a structure, it gets a bit easier.
I don't see my family often enough, but when we do catch up, it's somewhere new in the world. They get to travel more than they would if I wasn't doing this sport.
I love coming to America to race. Maybe that's because I'm a big fan of NASCAR as well.
I was fascinated by racing as a kid, but no way would I have thought I'd make it into Formula One from here, from being from Perth, racing on little local go-kart tracks, you know.
I train five-and-a-half out of seven days and do a combination of exercise.
If I am going to race, I will put everything on the line.
When I came into Red Bull, everyone thought, 'He's just the happy, nice guy; he's fast, but he can't race hard with these top guys.' That was a reputation I had to dismiss.
A lot of times when I was younger, whether it was in go-karting, or when I first started out in a new category, I would sit behind someone throughout a race. I didn't have the confidence in that environment to take some risks.
I enjoyed physical education and lunch time. The social aspect of school was great, but as soon as I left school, I wanted to get out there and race. I couldn't sit still for long.
I know what I want, and the performance side is more important than ticking the money box.
I've learned what F1 is like, and it is an extremely competitive sport on and off the track.
If you like going a certain way, then be bold and do it.
Since I got to F1, and especially since I got to Red Bull Racing, I said, 'I don't want to have any regrets. I've got a chance now in a top team. I want to leave it all on the table.'
I will be happier if I crash by trying than not trying and running around behind the same guy for 70 laps.
I like a good protein and fat breakfast, so avocado, bacon, eggs, and some veggies.
Being an F1 driver is a crazy job but not what everyone expects. My year consists of 20% driving and 80% media, marketing, and travel.
Overtaking is nearly as fun as winning races. The rush you get from it is awesome.
People might call me a liar for this, but I want a fast teammate, I think for two reasons: it's always going to get more out of yourself, and it's always going to be a more true evaluation of where you stand.
If I am putting myself out there and taking some of these risks, then I want to do it properly.
Sometimes you have a bad day, and you're like, 'I'm over this, and I just want to play tennis,' or do another sport that doesn't require any other variables, but then you have a good day, and it's like, it's amazing, and the success makes up for it.
I'm sure everyone has a cool story behind how they got into Formula One, but, for me, Perth, you know, not only in Australia is it detached, but it's detached from the whole world.
I enjoy being outdoors, hanging out with friends, and maybe snapping the neck off a couple of beers.
I'm not very patient.
You can't always win - although we always try!
I'm very competitive. If I have to 'turn it on,' I know how to. The switch isn't hard to find, don't worry.
I think, in general, the sport's frustrating because I think it's one of only a few sports in the world where you've got so many other variables. Not taking anything away from the winner, but the best man doesn't always win. I think part of that makes the sport really exciting, and part of it makes it heartbreaking.
In racing, things start coming up quicker, and the slipstream is stronger, so even judging in the mirrors how quick the cars are approaching isn't always easy.
I feel I am promoting the sport well in Australia with what I'm doing on an international level.
Getting past my early 20s, I feel a bit more maturity and responsibility about that stuff. You get a good feeling from doing something good. You see a kid and you make his day, you realise the power of it. Whereas before, I was like, 'That's cool, whatever.' But now, that's what I'm most appreciative of.
The way I see it is if I can't be happy doing this job, which is my dream job, then what's going to make me happy in life?
I know that I'll joke around to the last minute I get in the car. But once the helmet's on - it's sort of a cliche, but it's true - it's quite symbolic that that is 'go time,' and I'm ready to have some fun and be bad while I do it.
This sport's crazy.
I try to send out a good message - I sometimes get asked for advice for leaving home and trying to 'make it' overseas. I would always say think long term, and think bigger picture: make the sacrifice.
We know - relationships in this sport, it's very hard to have a really great relationship.
