Why U2 singer Bono compared himself to Aussie star Daniel Ricciardo - and sent Formula One fans wild
- U2 frontman clearly impressed by Aussie F1 star
- Compared himself on stage to Perth born driver
- Last Vegas will stage a F1 race on November 19
U2 frontman Bono has sent Formula One fans into a frenzy after comparing himself to 'rock star' Aussie driver Daniel Ricciardo.
Speaking at a concert ahead of F1 racing returning to Las Vegas for the first time in 41 years next weekend, the Irish singer introduced his bandmates on stage as modern-day grid stars.
'We are giving Las Vegas back to Formula One,' Bono began as anticipation builds ahead of the race on November 19.
'Now, if you don't know what Formula One is, it's a sport where very tidy, lean, mean men and some extraordinary women climb onto rockets and try to stay on Earth and not achieve orbit, something like that.
'A little like rock and roll, actually – less dangerous.
'One of the four great things out of Holland – on the drums, [is] Max Verstappen!' he said of bandmate Larry Mullen Jr.
![U2 frontman Bono has driven Formula One fans wild after comparing himself to 'rock star' Aussie driver Daniel Ricciardo](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/09/22/77626319-12732115-U2_frontman_Bono_has_sent_Formula_One_fans_wild_after_comparing_-m-11_1699569339912.jpg)
U2 frontman Bono has driven Formula One fans wild after comparing himself to 'rock star' Aussie driver Daniel Ricciardo
![The Irish singer introduced his bandmates on stage as modern-day grid stars of the F1 grid, and saw plenty of himself in the likeable Ricciardo (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/09/22/77626343-12732115-image-a-12_1699569353561.jpg)
The Irish singer introduced his bandmates on stage as modern-day grid stars of the F1 grid, and saw plenty of himself in the likeable Ricciardo (pictured)
'On the bass, the most elegant man on the circuit. Who is it, who is it? Lewis Hamilton on the bass,' Bono said of Adam Clayton.
'On guitar, the Monaco model himself, Charles Leclerc,' Bono said of The Edge.
He finished by comparing himself to the likeable Aussie, who is often viewed as the rockstar of F1, given his popularity.
'I'm at home with country music and metal and I am the right person to bring peace between Formula One and NASCAR – on vocals, Daniel Ricciardo!'
The Perth-born driver, who is currently steering for Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri, is yet to respond publicly to the high praise from Bono, but it is safe to say he would have loved the lofty comparison.
Meanwhile, Red Bull boss Christian Horner has confirmed Ricciardo called him to apologise after leaving the team in 2018.
At the time, he felt the up-and-coming Max Verstappen was being given preferential treatment, so the Aussie joined Renault - where he enjoyed mixed success - before he was again on the move to McLaren, which proved to be a dire spell.
Horner has explained how a regretful Ricciardo called him during the Covid pandemic to admit he was wrong to walk out on the team.
![Christian Horner has revealed how Daniel Ricciardo apologised to him for leaving Red Bull when he made his shock split from the team in 2018](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/09/23/77598143-12732115-Christian_Horner_has_revealed_how_Daniel_Ricciardo_apologised_to-a-1_1699571788045.jpg)
Christian Horner has revealed how Daniel Ricciardo apologised to him for leaving Red Bull when he made his shock split from the team in 2018
![Ricciardo (pictured during his time with McLaren) left the all-conquering Red Bull team to be a big fish in a small pond by switching to Renault](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/09/23/77598149-12732115-Ricciardo_left_the_all_conquering_Red_Bull_team_to_be_a_big_fish-a-2_1699571788212.jpg)
Ricciardo (pictured during his time with McLaren) left the all-conquering Red Bull team to be a big fish in a small pond by switching to Renault
![But he is on the verge of a Red Bull return after rekindling his relationship with Horner (pictured, driving for AlphaTauri)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/09/23/77598141-12732115-But_he_is_on_the_verge_of_a_Red_Bull_return_after_rekindling_his-a-3_1699571788295.jpg)
But he is on the verge of a Red Bull return after rekindling his relationship with Horner (pictured, driving for AlphaTauri)
'I think he recognised that he made a mistake,' Horner said on Dax Shepard's Eff Won podcast.
'Having spent a few years outside of the family he suddenly realised that, 'Whoa, actually what I had was really good'.
'Actually it was during the pandemic, I remember he called me and he said, 'Christian, I hate to say this to you, but you were absolutely right, and I apologise' and so on.'
Horner added that Ricciardo was badly advised when he made the move to Enstone.
'There was an element of [spite] at the time, thinking, 'You know what? Okay. Go and suck on the lemon for a bit',' Horner said. 'He was very badly advised in his earlier career. Everybody f***s up at some point.
'We gave Max a contract at the beginning of that year in 2018 to secure his future. Daniel, I remember being upset at the time. He suddenly felt that, 'Hang on, I don't want to be the support act here'.
'I could tell he was starting to think of being a bigger fish in a smaller pond. He got a lot of noise in his ear that this is the Max show. Money [from Renault)] was also on the table.'