ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
In a sombre yet iconic moment for Australian motorsport, Oscar Piastri has vowed to uphold our sacred ritual of the shoey as Daniel Ricciardo’s illustrious Formula 1 career comes to an end.
Ricciardo, who impressed and showcased the very best of Australian culture to the world by drinking champagne from his race-worn boot, was recently axed from Red Bull Racing in what many are calling the end of an era.
Having won eight Grand Prix races since his F1 debut in 2010, the Perth-born speed enjoyer leaves behind more than just a legacy of breathtaking overtakes — he leaves behind the shoey, an ancient Australian custom known to celebrate success, mischief, and, in some cases, grief.
With Ricciardo’s future now set in stone, all eyes have turned to his compatriot and McLaren young gun, Oscar Piastri, who is poised to take up the mantle of Australia’s most popular F1 driver.
Piastri, who has performed the ceremonial shoey in the past, has publicly stated that he is “more than ready” to fill those sweaty, champagne-soaked shoes.
“Look, I’ve been practising in the pits all week,” said Piastri in a press conference overnight.
“It’s much easier doing a shoey with beer or red wine. The fizz of champers [sic] makes it uneasy. Daniel’s done the hard work, now it’s up to me to carry the torch. Or the shoe, I guess. Or I could find something else to do.”
Ricciardo’s departure also paves the way for Kiwi Liam Lawson, adding a hint of trans-Tasman tension to the saga.
More to come.
