Former McLaren ace Daniel Ricciardo once nailed impressive half-court shot at Phoenix Suns’ facility

Daniel Ricciardo has consistently demonstrated his remarkable talents, both on and off the track. Even though this season he suffered from a serious hand injury at the Dutch GP, Ricciardo managed to make a major comeback at the US GP.

Beyond his motorsports skills, the Australian driver has proven to be a multi-talented individual and hence decided to showcase his basketball skills at the end of the 2023 season. Recently, a video capturing his basketball skills went viral, drawing attention from fans throughout the world.

Ricciardo’s basketball prowess shines with half-court shot

Daniel Ricciardo proceeded to upload a video showcasing his basketball skills by trying the half-court shot. Initially, the driver acted like a rookie, claiming that he could only “try” the shot and lacked the confidence to actually be able to perform it like an expert.

However, within seconds, the driver stood in excitement and shock as the ball went through the loop. An excited Daniel then pointed towards the camera, saying, “We have witnesses! First shot!”

The video has gone viral rapidly, with over 1.5 million views, with the caption stating, “Half court money @suns.” Later on, McLaren proudly posted the video by captioning it as  “Didn’t mention that one on the CV @danielricciardo.”

Lando Norris predicted Daniel Ricciardo’s struggles before McLaren’s spell

Despite Ricciardo’s ability to deliver consistent performances throughout the racing season in Alpha Tauri, his stay with the McLaren team back in 2021 has been the hardest chapter in his driving career. The Australian’s performance steadily declined in the first season, scoring much fewer points than Lando Norris. However, even though spectators hoped for some improvements, Daniel’s performance in the second year was much worse than his first. Surprisingly, Lando Norris predicted Daniel’s downfall even before he entered the team.

“There has been a lot more emphasis on doing everything I can do for the best in myself and the best for the team… There is now a sense I can lead things in the team. There is a bigger role I have to take on because of my experience with this team, and Daniel cannot fill that.”

In 2021, Ricciardo claimed a total of  115 points and finished in the P8 position, while Norris clinched a total of 160 points in the P9 position. In the second year, Ricciardo faced a drastic change in his performance, scoring only 37 points in the P11 position, while Norris finished in the P7 with only 122 points.

Considering Ricciardo’s state, McLaren had no other option than to say goodbye to the Australian driver in 2022.

Do you think Alpha Tauri would be able to catch up with McLaren in 2024? Let us know in the comment section below.