Since Daniel Riccardo is currently without a drive in F1, I’m sure he’s plenty busy trying to get his way back in, or with the plenty other things he has going on outside of the sport. But his recent exit, along with the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix in which he wasn’t a part of had me thinking:
“Danny Ric should be the head of Puma’s F1 partnership.”
At this point, we all know my disappointment with a lot of the motorsport/F1 collaborations, and even further confusion as to how A$AP Rocky was given the title of Creative Director. (Gaga and Polaroid, anyone?) And by no means am I knocking his fashion prowess and experience. He has it, no doubt. He just won an award for Best Collaboration for the same collaboration that I have very publicly shared disdain for. So, I’m not taking anything away from Rocky.
But I want to explore a world in which the creative director is Daniel Riccardo. And let me explain why this world makes sense.
Danny Ric Spent 14 Seasons In Formula 1
This is the strongest and probably most obvious reason why Danny takes the helm in another universe. 14 years in the sport aside, Daniel has spent his entire life in motorsports in some capacity. Who is a better person to be involved in a Formula 1 initiative than a former driver themself?
Couple those 14 years in the pinnacle of motorsport with 257 race starts, 8 wins, 32 podiums, and 1329 career points in the sport, and Daniel has enough experience to lead any racing division for any brand anywhere. He simply has more experience, and therefore more reach than A$AP does when it comes to motorsports and the motorsports fan base.
Say what you will about his career, but there was no question that Danny could put together an alphet for any occasion or situation during his tenure in the sport. And that road turns into the next section…
Danny Ric Is (Also) A Lovable Style Icon
Nobody will ever match Lewis Hamilton, but Daniel Ricciardo would be the leading contender for second best dressed on the grid. If you undertake the arduous task of combing through Formula 1’s Instagram profile (because they post so much), you’ll find the driver’s fits for any given race weekend. Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo, and Zhou Guanyu are usually swagged out. The rest of the grid is business casual in their team polos, denim, and Golden Goose/Alexander McQueen sneakers. Every now and then someone puts on a team hat backwards.
Of course, we know what A$AP brings to the table when it comes to style. But, the drip is only part of Honey Badger’s bag. I could probably make an educated guess that when Daniel Ricciardo first popped up in your head while reading this, you pictured him with that signature smile of his. Ricciardo is charming, witty, funny, cultured, embarrassingly well travelled, and honestly, anything he would do after racing would be a massive hit around the world. A Podcast? Instant global audience. Cooking/Food Show? Your shrimp on the barbie is immaculate. A Clothing Brand? Well…
Danny Ric Has A Clothing Brand
Enchanté, my friend.
While I am always happy to make new friends and connections, Enchanté is the name of Daniel Ricciardo’s apparel and lifestyle brand. If there was another reason to give Ricciardo the reins at Puma F1, this may arguably be the most relevant. The overall theme and motif of Enchanté is clear from the moment you first land on the home page. This is a motorsports-informed brand that tastefully weaves elements of motorsports and adjacent cultures through its apparel; these aren’t pieces that feel like money grabs, or clothes for the specific moment in time, which is what a lot of motorsport collections/collabs feel like currently.
I want to make it abundantly clear that I want A$AP Rocky to do well as the creative director for Puma’s F1 initiative. I hope we see some really great pieces that bring Rocky’s eye and experience while still paying homage to and invoking the rich history of motorsports. But somewhere, in another world, Daniel Ricciardo is the creative director, bringing a literal lifetime of racing experience, social mastery, and fashion concepts to a brand that is already no stranger to either.
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