Australian Daniel Ricciardo says the eye-popping three-letter message on his helmet isn’t “directed at anyone”.
During the recent Monaco Grand Prix, in which the 32-year-old finished 13th courtesy of a poor qualifying session, eagle-eyed motorsport fans were quick to point out the ‘FEA’ messaging on his helmet, which stands for ‘f–k em all’.
Ricciardo confirmed it was just a simple tactic to keep his head in the right space on race day.
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“I put it on my helmet in 2018 as well,” Ricciardo said.
“I like to use acronyms to pump me up. It’s honestly not directed at anyone, it’s something that I’ve said for a few years and it just kind of gets me in my happy place.
“I think as well, as a driver, you put the helmet on and that’s also very significant of flipping the switch. It’s one of the last things I’ll see when I put the helmet on.
“So it reminds me to channel in and get into the zone.”
The helmet messaging is the last of Ricciardo’s issues at the moment.
Despite being under contract until the end of next year with McLaren, whispers are growing louder that his time may come to an end much sooner.
After finishing third in 2015, second in 2016, third in 2017, fifth in 2018, seventh in 2019, and fourth in 2020, season 2022 has been a completely different story for Ricciardo.
Ricciardo has just one top 10 finish for the year, coming in Australia, while sitting 11th in the F1 drivers’ standings.
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