At the ADV Cup this July, Daniel Ricciardo - eight-time Formula 1 race winner - swapped the paddock for the padel court to join us at the club.

Between games, we caught him for a few quick questions. Grid rivalries, Vegas nights and the soundtrack to a racing career.

The grid, on court

We kicked off with an easy one. Daniel's guilty pleasure? "Padel." Obviously.

So which driver on the grid is best at it? "If I was still on the grid, I'd say me," he grins. "But no. Out of who I've played with, probably Lance."

And who he wouldn't want as a partner? He'd been doing some research. "Actually, wait. I heard Lando was here yesterday. I heard he's got some work to do."

Friendly fire. Lando, the court's open whenever you're ready.

Vegas, 2015

Best sporting moment he's witnessed live? It's not in a car. "UFC," he says. "It was McGregor–Mendes. It was my first event in Vegas, and that was the coolest thing I'd seen. I loved it."

Shut off the noise... with noise

The one thing he'd never travel without during his racing days is more analogue than you'd expect. "I'll still carry an old-school iPod around," he says.

For Ricciardo, music was about more than passing time. "Music was my safe space. That's what allowed me to kind of shut off from all the noise."

Then, with a laugh: "So yeah, shut off the noise with noise."

A partner from home

His dream doubles partner goes back to childhood. "As a kid, I loved tennis. Pat Rafter was one of the Aussies that we all got behind," he says. "And I heard he's pretty handy at padel, actually. A few friends that I know have played with him and said he's great."

"That'd be fun. Someone fun to play padel with."

Pat, if you're reading. We'll find you a court.