Duel with Schumacher gives you goosebumps: 'He is the god of Formula 1'

Everyone has their own idol, and for Daniel Ricciardo that used to be Michael Schumacher. The fact that he was allowed to race against his idol still gives the Australian goose bumps when he talks about it.

Ricciardo made his Formula 1 debut in 2011 with HRT, but only really impressed in his first season for Toro Rosso in 2012. In Japan, he found himself in a duel with his idol of old. Michael Schumacher was driving for Mercedes at the time, and together they battled for tenth place at Suzuka. Ricciardo was the eventual winner.

Duel with Schumacher

''I remember one of my first races at Suzuka, and there I had a short duel with him. It was like a game of cat and mouse on the track. That was really unreal. I enjoyed every second,'' Ricciardo now says years later in conversation with German Sport Bild.

''Michael had already won seven world titles. He is the god of this sport. After the race, my father took me aside for a moment, talking about the duel. He said, ''Do you have any idea what just happened?'' I had to let that sink in first. When I'm older I'll think back to moments like that. My god, now that I tell it I just get goose bumps again'', concludes the McLaren driver.