Jonas Leo
Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has offered an illuminating glimpse into the genesis of his signature ‘Shoey’ podium celebration, a ritual that has become synonymous with his effervescent personality and Australian heritage. The revelation came during a recent interview with Ford CEO Jim Farley, where the distinctive act was likened to legendary American racer Dan Gurney’s pioneering champagne spray at Le Mans in 1966, an event that forever altered motorsport victory traditions.
Ricciardo, known for his infectious grin and aggressive racing style, elaborated on the dual motivations behind the unconventional celebratory drink. While acknowledging that historical research by a friend suggested possible initial German roots for the practice, the Australian driver confirmed that his immediate inspiration stemmed directly from his homeland. "I can’t remember the exact Shoey history, let’s say," Ricciardo explained to Farley. "But a few of my friends in Australia were doing it. There was a group of guys called the Mad Hueys, and they would go on surf trips around the world and just drink out of their shoes."
The Mad Hueys, a well-known Australian surf and fishing collective, gained notoriety for their adventurous spirit and often outlandish antics, frequently documented on social media. Their uninhibited approach to celebrating, which included drinking from footwear, resonated with Ricciardo, who had spent a significant portion of his adult life residing away from Australia due to his burgeoning motorsport career. For Ricciardo, adopting the Shoey was a profound personal statement. "I’d lived away from Australia for a long time, but it was my way of showing, I guess, Australia that I’m still Australian," he stated, highlighting a deep-seated desire to maintain a connection to his national identity on the global stage of Formula 1.
Beyond its cultural resonance, the then 27-year-old driver (at the time of the Shoey’s F1 debut in 2016) also viewed the Shoey as a crucial avenue for self-expression within a sport he perceived as overly formal. "I always tried, I say in a way quite desperately, to remain myself in a sport that was – these days it’s changed, but I think definitely 10 years ago it was still a little bit buttoned up, and I wanted to try and I’d say relax the shoulders of the sport a little bit," Ricciardo reflected. This candid observation underscores a pivotal era in F1, where driver personalities were often constrained by corporate images and strict protocols. Ricciardo, with his ‘Honey Badger’ moniker and flamboyant style, emerged as a refreshing antidote, and the Shoey became a potent symbol of his efforts to inject more authenticity and fun into the paddock.
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The inaugural F1 Shoey, a moment etched into motorsport folklore, occurred following Ricciardo’s victory at the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix. Driving for Red Bull Racing, Ricciardo had secured his first win of the season and his fourth career F1 triumph, ending a protracted winless streak that dated back to the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix. On the Sepang International Circuit podium, after receiving his winner’s trophy, Ricciardo unexpectedly removed his race boot, poured champagne into it, and promptly consumed the contents to the delight and shock of onlookers.
Initially, Ricciardo envisioned the Shoey as a singular, spontaneous act. "If the sport hates it, at least my Aussie friends will give me some respect," he mused, anticipating a potentially polarizing reaction. "But then I did it, and I really didn’t know how it was going to go down, and I was like, it’ll be a one-and-done thing." However, the public’s reception proved overwhelmingly positive, transforming a quirky personal gesture into a demanded ritual.
The turning point came just a few months later, at the 2016 Singapore Grand Prix, where Ricciardo secured a podium finish. Reflecting on the Malaysian spectacle, he contemplated reserving the Shoey solely for victories or truly significant occasions. "After I did the first one, I was like, ‘OK, maybe this is something I just save for when I win, you know, a really big occasion, not just a podium,’" he recounted. Consequently, he chose not to perform the Shoey on the Singapore podium. The crowd, however, had other ideas. "I heard some Shoey chants and then there were some boos when I didn’t do it," Ricciardo recalled. This palpable demand from the fans solidified the Shoey’s place in his celebratory repertoire. "I was like, ‘OK, they really want this.’ So, I was just like, ‘OK, all the podiums I get now, I just have to do it.’"
From that moment, the Shoey became an expected, often eagerly anticipated, fixture of Ricciardo’s podium appearances. Its appeal was so widespread that it transcended the confines of F1, drawing in other motorsport figures and even celebrities. Notable instances include Mark Webber, Ricciardo’s former Red Bull teammate, participating in a Shoey at the 2017 Australian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, famously joined Ricciardo in a Shoey after the 2018 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, albeit with a look of mild apprehension. Even Hollywood actor Gerard Butler and legendary actor Sir Patrick Stewart partook in the celebration, underscoring its cultural penetration. The gesture became a global phenomenon, instantly recognizable and widely associated with Ricciardo’s charismatic persona.
Ricciardo’s career in Formula 1 spans over a decade, marked by 8 Grand Prix victories, 32 podium finishes, and 3 pole positions. His journey through teams like HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, and currently RB (formerly AlphaTauri) has seen him consistently rank among the sport’s most talented and popular drivers. His most successful period came with Red Bull Racing from 2014 to 2018, where he challenged for race wins and cemented his reputation as one of F1’s premier overtakers. Despite more challenging stints with Renault and McLaren in subsequent years, his enduring popularity and unique character, heavily amplified by the Shoey, have never wavered.
In the current 2024 season, Ricciardo, now 34, is driving for Visa Cash App RB Formula 1 Team (RB), the sister team to Red Bull Racing. After a mid-season return in 2023 following a period as Red Bull’s reserve driver, he aims to regain his competitive edge. The RB team, positioned as a mid-field contender, is currently working on developing its challenger, the VCARB 01, to consistently compete for points. Ricciardo’s recent performances have shown flashes of his renowned speed, particularly in qualifying sessions, though consistent race results remain a development target for the team. His experience and leadership are vital as RB seeks to climb the Constructors’ Championship standings, where they currently sit towards the lower end of the table.
The ‘Shoey’ not only became a personal trademark but also inadvertently played a role in the broader evolution of Formula 1’s public image. In an era increasingly driven by social media engagement and fan interaction, Ricciardo’s authentic and unscripted celebration helped to humanize the often-stilted world of elite motorsport. It demonstrated that even at the pinnacle of racing, there was room for individual personality and genuine, if slightly bizarre, expressions of joy. The comparison to Dan Gurney’s champagne spray is apt; both acts, in their respective eras, broke from established norms, adding an indelible layer of character and spectacle to the moment of victory. Ricciardo’s ‘Shoey,’ born from a desire to connect with his roots and express his true self, remains a lasting emblem of his impactful presence in Formula 1.
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- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
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