Formula One driver for McLaren Daniel Ricciardo has recently unveiled the helmet he will be sporting in the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Italian-Australian racer will sport a MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi-inspired helmet at Monza F1 circuit.
The nine-time MotoGP World Champion, Valentino Rossi retired from the sport at the end of the 2021 season and the McLaren F1 driver decided to pay a tribute to the Italian motorcycle racer by donning a helmet inspired by him in Sunday's race.
The 33-year-old Ricciardo took to his official Instagram handle and unveiled his new Valentino Rossi-inspired helmet and wrote, "Race day. Got a special one 🇮🇹 @valeyellow46. "
Watch the video here:
In the video, Daniel Ricciardo said, " I’ve been saving this one for race day, I’ve obtained a little bit of a tribute helmet for an Italian motorsport legend, the one and solely Valentino Rossi."
The McLaren driver further revealed that the model is inspired from Valentino Rossi's Italian MotoGP-winning race in Mugello in 2008. He said, “It’s possible you’ll recall he wore a model of this helmet in Mugello, I believe it was 2008. I don’t know if I’m as lovely as Valentino, however it’s undoubtedly a enjoyable one."
Ricciardo, who will start on the fourth position in Monza on Sunday, showed his excitement for his upcoming race and said, "It’s going to be lining up fourth on the grid as we speak so fairly excited. Hopefully my face seems to be like that once I cross the road."