ricciardo pronounces his name "ricardo" instead of the italian pronunciation "rit-chi-ardo", saying that is how his family pronounces it. he has been nicknamed "the honey badger". when asked why, he said, "it's supposed to be the most fearless animal in the animal kingdom. when you look at it, he seems quite cute and cuddly, but as soon as someone crosses his territory in a way he doesn't like, he turns into a bit of a savage and he'll go after anything – tigers, pythons – he turns very quickly, but he's a good guy." he wears an image of a honey badger on the back of his helmet.