Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

When Daniel Ricciardo once got Gerard Butler to drink out of his shoe after an F1 race

Originally posted on HITC | By Ashley Hambly | Last updated Jan 13, 2026 11:56 AM ET

Daniel Ricciardo’s ‘shoey’ became one of the most iconic celebrations in Formula 1 history through its ability to make everyone laugh and wince at the same time, and he once got Hollywood star Gerard Butler involved in some of his antics.

While many F1 fans attribute Daniel Ricciardo as the first person to bring the ‘shoey’ to the world stage, MotoGP rider Jack Miller was the first man in motorsports to celebrate a race win by drinking champagne out of his shoe.

Miller whipped off his boot at the 2016 Dutch TT to mark his very first win in the premier class, inspiring Ricciardo to do the same in celebration of his 100th race in F1 at the German Grand Prix later on in the same year.

Ricciardo would go on to state that a ‘shoey’ was a broader Australian tradition that was popularised by a surfing and fishing group called ‘The Mad Hueys’.

It became a staple of Ricciardo’s podium appearances, and he ended up getting several other drivers to get in on the act with him, as well as some podium guests who dared to drink from the sweat-sodden shoe.

Daniel Ricciardo managed to get Gerard Butler to do a ‘shoey’ after the 2016 United States Grand Prix

Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Mark Webber was the first victim of Ricciardo’s now legendary celebration. As a fellow Australian, Webber couldn’t say no when the Red Bull star offered him a swig of champagne at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Hollywood star Gerard Butler then became the first non-F1 figure to go through Ricciardo’s gauntlet.

The Scottish actor was doing the pre-podium interviews with the top-three finishers of the 2016 United States Grand Prix before Ricciardo filled his shoe with Red Bull and offered it to Butler.

To his credit, Butler chugged the ungodly mixture in one before pretending to pass out from the stunt as roars erupted at the Circuit of the Americas.

Ricciardo would go on to coerce Sir Patrick Stewart into replicating Butler’s feat at the Canadian Grand Prix in the following year.

To his credit, Stewart told Ricciardo that he would love to take part in the celebration, and even toasted the crowd before seeing off the champagne-filled boot.

Daniel Ricciardo finally got Lewis Hamilton to do a shoey at the 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Despite Lewis Hamilton dominating the podium during the height of Ricciardo’s ‘shoey’ antics, it took the Australian a long time before he finally convinced the seven-time world champion to have a drink with him.

After Ricciardo secured his second podium in three races during the 2020 season, Hamilton couldn’t help but ask for a shot.

Ricciardo was taken aback by the request, telling reporters, including ESPN, following the post-race celebrations, “I was about to drink a beautiful fresh one, and I heard Lewis saying ‘take your other shoe off.’

“I was like ‘No…’ because honestly, I think it was three years ago on the podium, he goes, ‘I’ll never, ever do that, I’ll never drink it. You can offer me, you can force me, I’ll never do it’. And he even asked for it today.

“So it took me by surprise, but 2020 is the year of the strange, so it was good fun.”

Hamilton would later tell journalists that the refreshment had tasted like ‘toe jam’, but saw a silver lining from the moment.

He added, “I mean, I don’t really like champagne as it is, but it definitely tastes worse. But what’s positive is that Daniel’s mum thinks I was a good sport, so I’m grateful for that.”

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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