5 F1 drivers with hilarious nicknames during their careers

F1 drivers are some of the most famous athletes in the world of sports and are recognised globally for their skills. Over time, many drivers have endeared themselves to the fans on the basis of their skills behind the wheel of the cars and their personalities.

However, there have been some drivers who are not only known by their first names because of their achievements, but also their nicknames that create a few chuckles from fellow drivers and fans alike. Below is the list of five drivers with hilarious nicknames during their careers:

#Nico Rosberg

Nico Rosberg is arguably one of the most underrated world champions in F1 history, despite going toe to toe and coming out triumphant against his ex-Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton for three years from 2014 to 2016. Apart from his legendary rivalry with the British driver, the German driver was also known by his nickname 'Britney'.

The name was first uttered by his ex-Williams teammate Mark Webber during the opening lap of the 2006 Brazilian GP, when he informed the team about the German's crash and said, 'Britney’s in the wall'. The name was accurate given Rosberg's blonde hair and youthful looks in his early years.

#Niki Lauda

Niki Lauda is remembered in the F1 circles as one of the greatest drivers of all time, owing to his skills and bravery behind the wheel. During an almost decade-and-a-half-long career, the Austrian won three championships and 25 wins with Ferrari, McLaren, and others.

However, he was also popular for his nicknames like 'The Rat' and 'The Computer'. While emotional detachment behind the wheel to go along with his cool demeanour earned him the nickname 'The Computer', it was his 'The Rat' moniker that left fellow drivers in stitches. He was given the nickname due to his buck teeth.

#Daniel Ricciardo- F1's Honey Badger

During his time in F1, Daniel Ricciardo was known for his excellent overtaking skills and a cheerful personality away from the car. The joyous Aussie was always looking to have fun in the sport and was known to the fans and fellow drivers for his moniker 'Honey Badger'.

The eight-time F1 race winner had on many occasions claimed that he shares similar traits to the furry animal after the nickname was given to him by one of his ex-trainers.

#Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc is currently one of the best drivers in the sport and has consistently proven his speed in the car ever since he made his deadly in 2018. Since becoming a Ferrari driver in 2019, the Monegasque driver has endeared himself to the fans with his laid-back personality and funny quips in interviews.

However, in 2021, when he disclosed his full name to his then-teammate Carlos Sainz, the Spaniard claimed that Leclerc's name was "lord-esque" and started calling him "Lord Perceval".

#Daniil Kvyat

The former Red Bull driver had a stunning start to his F1 career and earned himself a promotion to the Austrian team in 2015 when he replaced Sebastian Vettel.

However, during the initial few races of the 2016 season, Daniil Kvyat found himself battling against Vettel in a couple of races, with the latter calling him out for his driving in China and terming that he "came in like a torpedo". The nickname unfortunately stuck and became associated with the Russian, which later led to him getting demoted to Toro Rosso in the same year.