Finding optimism in unlikely places

The 2023 Formula 1 season promises to be full of surprises with Formula 1 racing driver and Optus Chief of Optimism Daniel Ricciardo making the switch back to his home team, Red Bull Racing as reserve driver.

Daniel will be down under with Red Bull Racing as the reserve driver at the FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2023 of which Optus is a Major Partner.

To get you primed for the 2023 season, Daniel has shared his view on how his optimism is inspired by others.

We’re all driving our own race, but that doesn’t mean we need to do it alone. Along the way, I’ve had people help me both professionally and mentally; transforming me from a young boy to a young(ish) man. Mentorship doesn’t need to be one-dimensional, there have been a lot of great people with me on my journey, and below are just a few of the places I have come across mentors.

This one is a bit more on the obvious side. It’s no surprise my first mentor was my dad. He raced cars when he was young, and while he wasn’t at the top (no offence, dad), I always thought he was cool and that was enough to inspire me. He played a huge part in supporting me to chase my dreams and saw the passion I had for driving. Giving me the freedom to do what I loved at such an early age really encouraged me to believe in myself and never give up. Parents have such large roles in their kids’ lives and I can’t thank my dad enough for believing in me.

Sometimes a mentor is right in front of you – or in my case, racing beside you. While we are all competitors on the track, we drivers are incredibly supportive of one another. I’m fortunate to be able to call some of my peers life-long friends. Last season had its challenges and I have a few of the drivers to thank for helping me keep my head up and stay motivated. Sebastian Vettel frequently called me throughout the year, just to check in, as any friend would. When you take away the competition, some of these guys are the most inspiring people I’ve met. That’s why competitors make for such great mentors. At the end of the day, we all have the same passions and we’re all experiencing the same pressures together, so we know what each other is going through.

I’m lucky to say I’ve raced alongside some of my heroes, who in turn have become a positive force in my life. A good mentor can help you identify your strengths. Having the chance to test myself against the best of the best has allowed me to prove to myself what I’m capable of. A favourite memory, in 2012, my first season with Toro Rosso and second race season: defending against Schumacher in the last part of the race. I finished 10th, but it’s still one of my favourite races to date because despite being so intimidated by him at that time, I was able to keep him behind me for the last few laps, surprising myself with my race craft. Afterwards, he congratulated me. I’ll never forget when he came up and said, ‘Good job last week defending’. Receiving confirmation from someone like that, at that age, and that point in my career was huge. He didn’t realise at the time what he was doing but that small piece of comradery boosted my confidence a lot and left a lasting impression on me.

Mentors have a knack for showing up in the places and moments you aren't expecting them. But when they do, it's like having your own little pit crew to help you reach whatever finish line you're driving towards. With the right support, you’ll find yourself on the podium too.

Find out more about Daniel Ricciardo’s views on fame, relaxation and having a laugh.