Daniel Ricciardo, former Formula 1 driver, recently gained attention with a humorous tribute to Max Verstappen’s ‘Franz Hermann’ pseudonym in a viral social media post. This reference connected Ricciardo, who stepped away from F1 after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, with Verstappen in a moment of lightheartedness during a period of speculation about Ricciardo’s racing future.
Ricciardo, an eight-time F1 race winner, left the sport following an unsuccessful attempt to rejoin Red Bull through the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team. During the 2024 season, he was outperformed by teammate Yuki Tsunoda in races and qualifying sessions, leading to his replacement by Liam Lawson for the last six races of the year. Despite rumors about a potential comeback with Cadillac in 2025, Ricciardo has publicly stated that he has retired from Formula 1 permanently.
Although Ricciardo has generally kept a low profile on social media since exiting the sport, his recent Instagram post quickly went viral, amassing over 129,000 likes within the first hour. The video showed him driving on his farm in Perth, where he humorously paid homage to Verstappen by simply posting the name:
“Frank Hermann.”
This playful misspelling refers to the pseudonym ‘Franz Hermann’ that Verstappen used while testing Emil Frey Racing’s Ferrari 296 GT3 car in the DTM series. When asked why he chose that name, Verstappen explained at Imola in an interview with Motorsport.com:
“They asked me for a fake name, so I said let’s make it as German as we can. Then you’re not on the entry list. Otherwise, people woke up at 8am knowing that my name is on it; I knew that once I was there that people would realise. It’s normal. But at least I wasn’t on the entry list. So at least at 8, 9 am it was pretty calm.”
Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were teammates at Red Bull Racing from 2016 to 2018, during which time they developed a respected and friendly relationship that extended beyond the racetrack.
The Relationship Between Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo as Teammates
Max Verstappen has spoken openly about his positive dynamic with Daniel Ricciardo during their time together at Red Bull. In an interview at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix with F1.com, Verstappen described their rapport both on and off the track as strong and genuine.
“Daniel and I, of course, go a long way back. We have always had a great relationship, great friendship, and a lot of respect for each other as well, so he’s just a great guy.
“[We] get on well, it just clicks. There is no fake person; we just get along and are easy-going, we are like that. He will for sure be remembered as a very fast driver, I think everyone knows that, but also as a great guy in the paddock.”
Even after Ricciardo’s departure from Red Bull in 2018, the two maintained their close connection and were often seen spending time together in the F1 paddock. Their mutual respect underscored Ricciardo’s reputation not only as a talented racer but also as a well-liked personality within the F1 community.
Ricciardo’s Status and Future Plans After Leaving Formula 1
Following his exit from Formula 1, Daniel Ricciardo has distanced himself from the racing spotlight and social media interactions. Although rumors circulated about a possible return to F1 with Cadillac, Ricciardo firmly denied these claims, emphasizing that his racing career at this level has concluded. This viral tribute to Verstappen’s ‘Franz Hermann’ alias reflects Ricciardo’s playful side and sustained connection to his past teammates and the racing world, even as he embraces life beyond Formula 1.
