Ricciardo defends pay drivers: 'You're still putting your body on the line'

Daniel Ricciardo has stepped up to the plate for so-called 'pay drivers', the drivers who owe their spot in Formula 1 mainly to a well-filled wallet. Ricciardo believes these drivers deserve just as much respect because they end up taking the same risks as everyone else.

Ricciardo defends 'pay drivers'

Ricciardo believes that these drivers have a bad reputation, but does not think this is entirely justified. According to the McLaren driver, it still takes a certain amount of talent to reach the F1 grid. Moreover, he stresses that any driver who wants to go far in motorsport needs "some kind of funding".

"Even to go go-karting as a kid – you need to spend thousands as opposed to hundreds if you’re playing football," the Australian says in the Your Mom's House-podcast. "So you’d certainly need some kind of funding, whether it’s from family or sponsors."

According to Ricciardo, drivers who pay for their seats must also possess the necessary dose of talent. "At the end of the day, if you’re driving, once you get to like F2 or F1, even if someone’s paid your way there, you’re still putting your body on the line," he continued. "So they're definitely at that level. Maybe their path was easier than others', but they’re still pretty gnarly."