Home

F1

Why Ricciardo’s Tattoo Bet With Cyril Abiteboul Won’t Happen After Renault F1 Exit

Published 01/12/2021, 1:03 AM EST

Follow Us

via Getty

It did not take long for Daniel Ricciardo to spread his infectious, cheerful personality at Renault. Most of the French team’s personnel, including Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul, took to him, as did the ardent supporters of the racing outfit.

A couple of years back, Abiteboul had lodged a bet with Ricciardo. The bet was if Ricciardo notched up a podium for the team, then Abiteboul would have to get a tattoo made per the former’s choice of design.

The ‘Honey Badger’ held up his side of the deal, securing the team’s first podium in the 2020 F1 Eifel GP. But with changing factors in recent times, will Mr. Abiteboul fulfill his end of the bargain?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Cyril Abiteboul’s departure from Alpine F1 complicates the ‘tattoo bet’ situation

No one in the Formula 1 community quite expected the shock news of Abiteboul’s departure from the team. It now means that we would all certainly miss a familiar face in the paddock.

via Getty

In addition, the impact of the coronavirus is such that all entities are likely to stay confined to their respective bubbles. With Ricciardo rumored to be in Los Angeles and Abiteboul making himself home elsewhere, a meeting between the two looks improbable.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest F1 stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Ricciardo’s movement from venue to venue means he would have to follow F1’s safety mandate. Consequently, Abiteboul’s lack of contact with Ricciardo might see him forget the bet after an extended period.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The tattoo would also, in a way, represent Abiteboul’s time at Renault. So, possibly, the motivation to now get it done might not be there. Considering both names are no longer associated with the French team, it renders the purpose of the symbolic gesture moot.

Ricciardo and Cyril Abiteboul cultivated a fruitful relationship in their two seasons together

It was the kind of mutual jest between the pair that even led to the tattoo bet in the first place. Their bond on and off the track meant that it aligned them in their objectives. Consequently, a good communicative understanding contributed to their racing success as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

via Reuters

Possibly, had Abiteboul still remained in the F1 paddock then he just might have had a tattoo before 2021 ended! But as enthusiastic as the placement of the bet was, it is a genuine shame that it is now probably off the table.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Bhargav Gopal

927Articles

One take at a time

Hailing from Bengaluru, Bhargav is an F1 and NASCAR author for EssentiallySports. He is a huge fan of Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. Bhargav also has an MBA in Sports Management from the Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences, Pune.
Show More>