'You look beautiful': Dan Ricciardo's awkward John Cena fanboy moment

Daniel Ricciardo has taken some time out of his preparation for the Syrian Grand Prix in Austria to speak with one of his heroes - former WWE legend John Cena.

The F1 driver had an ultimate fanboy moment with the ex-wrestling superstar, who is now a Hollywood star.

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Cena has been busy promoting his new film, Fast and Furious 9, and was keen to chat about his love of fast cars with the Aussie driver.

Ricciardo came across as an awkward school boy when asked what it felt like to be speaking to one of his heroes.

"This is wonderful, it's really good," Ricciardo said somewhat sheepishly.

"You look beautiful by the way, you look very dapper. Although you're in a screen right now I can feel your beauty so somewhat intimidating but yeah, I feel good.

"We're in Austria, the sun is shining and John Cena is looking at me through another screen so it's great."

The pair swapped driving tips and Cena shared some advice about how Ricciardo - who was angling for a future cameo in one of the Fast and Furious movies - could potentially get his foot in the door of the film industry.

Ricciardo was also busy trying to encourage Cena to come and watch him race in a future Grand Prix event.

“Knowing you’re a car guy, we’ll have to get you out to an F1 race at some point,” Ricciardo said.

“I think it’ll definitely blow your mind. I’m assuming you’ve never been, right?”

Cena said he'd love to be able to catch the Austin Grand Prix in Texas later in the year but jokingly warned Ricciardo not to steal his thunder if he ever did make the transition to movies.

“My advice is just please don’t put me out of a job," Cena joked.

“He knows that smoothness is fast, but he knows that smoothness isn’t very theatrical so please when you decide to make the transition just leave some work for the lowly people on the totem pole.

The Aussie revealed that he's a big fan of the Fast and Furious movie franchise, and that he'd be happy with even a cameo role in a future film.

“I don’t want to steal all your thunder John. So a little cameo role, my five seconds of fame," he said.

Ricciardo is beginning to feel more at home in his Mercedes-powered McLaren and is confident of a good showing in the next two Grand Prix races in Austria.

Ricciardo looking to keep momentum going

"I'm looking forward to having another race on the bounce and a double in Austria," said Australian Ricciardo, who joined from Renault at the end of last season.

"It could be a wet one, maybe even for both weekends.

"We could get two very different races, you never know."

McLaren, third in the constructors' championship after a double points finish in France, will also be hoping for another strong haul to stay ahead of Ferrari.

Spielberg's Red Bull Ring holds good memories for Lando Norris, who took his first podium and fastest lap there last year.

The Red Bull Ring, as the name suggests, is a home from home for the energy drink company's Honda-powered team but Mercedes won both races there last season with Valtteri Bottas and now-seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton.

"Austria has been a tricky circuit for us in past seasons, but we went well there last year," said team boss Toto Wolff after Hamilton lost out to Red Bull's overall leader Max Verstappen at last Sunday's French Grand Prix.

"We know the situation is very different this season, though. It's a very quick lap and a short circuit, with fewer opportunities to gain time. The margins are going to be tight, so we'll give it maximum attack."

Wolff said Mercedes had done the debriefs and understood where they needed to be better.

"Now it's all about focusing on bringing those improvements to the next two rounds in Austria, where hopefully we can swing the positive momentum back in our favour," added the Austrian.

Verstappen, a two times winner in Austria, is 12 points clear of Hamilton after seven races while Red Bull are 37 ahead in the constructors' standings.

Red Bull have not won four races in a row since the V6 turbo hybrid era began in 2014, ushering in an unprecedented period of Mercedes dominance. Mercedes have not gone four races without a victory since 2013.

with agencies

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