Ricciardo: ‘Terrified’ of F1 Return & Finding Life After Racing
The racing world may never see Daniel Ricciardo back on the Formula 1 grid, and the Australian appears perfectly content with that reality. In a candid interview with The Athletic, Ricciardo revealed a growing comfort with life outside the high-pressure environment of the sport, admitting the thought of returning to that “chaotic lifestyle” now “terrifies” him.
Ricciardo’s last competitive appearance came at the Singapore Grand Prix, where he was unexpectedly replaced at Racing Bulls by Liam Lawson. Since then, despite speculation linking him to potential F1 returns or other racing series, he has remained on the sidelines. The eight-time Grand Prix winner’s reflections suggest a deliberate and increasingly firm decision to prioritize a different kind of life.
The shift wasn’t immediate. Ricciardo described a period of searching for purpose after years of defining himself solely as a race car driver. “It took me a while to figure it out after racing, probably who I was and what maybe my purpose was beyond just being a race car driver,” he said. He now feels closer to understanding that identity, describing himself as “more relaxed” and actively resistant to the demands of his former career.
The realization that his F1 days were drawing to a close began to dawn on him even before the Singapore race, but the finality of the situation proved tough to process. “When you wake up with really one purpose for so many years, even if it feels like the right time, necessarily,” Ricciardo explained, “It doesn’t really change the fact that, ‘Oh, it’s gone, and what do I do now?’”
The immediate aftermath of his departure was a period of adjustment, a struggle to accept the closure of a significant chapter. Ricciardo highlighted the all-encompassing nature of life in the F1 paddock, where constant attention and scrutiny shaped his daily routine. He found himself longing for the “normality” that eluded him during his racing years.
“So much of my life was events and trackside, and there’s always a camera around,” he said. “There’s always people, and I have to put on always a smile and have to be careful what I say and this, and that. I tried to, obviously, always come across authentic and as myself, but it’s impossible to be 100 percent that when there is just always eyes on you.”
A key part of his reset involved returning to Australia and reconnecting with his roots, specifically by helping out on his family’s farm. This wasn’t a publicity stunt, but a genuine attempt to engage in practical, hands-on work – repairing equipment and operating machinery for extended periods. The experience offered a stark contrast to the glamorous world of Formula 1.
The quieter environment allowed for introspection, leading Ricciardo to a significant realization about the importance of solitude. “My biggest takeaway from last year is the importance of alone time,” he stated. “I realised that my life was always surrounded by people and chaos, so to speak, that I kind of lost my own thoughts and ideas.” He found he hadn’t had the opportunity to make decisions independently, often swayed by external opinions.
“I never really had a chance to probably make a decision on my own, and I would easily secure convinced that something’s the right thing to do, or this or that, due to the fact that I always have kind of voices around me,” Ricciardo continued. He emphasized the value of solitude in self-discovery, asking fundamental questions about his life, his goals, and his values – questions that were difficult to contemplate amidst the constant “fun, fun, fun” of the F1 circuit.
“You can’t really ever ask yourself those questions if you’re constantly surrounded by groups of people and everything’s like, fun, fun, fun. That’s not also real life, which I’ve started to realise.”
Despite speculation about potential roles in broadcasting or a racing comeback, Ricciardo has firmly dismissed those options. “I just had to strive and push back on that stuff, because I didn’t experience like that was right or what I wanted,” he said. “And I know jumping into commentating or something is not what I want to do. So just doing something to do it and stay in people spaces is just personally not my journey, not what I’m chasing.”
Instead, Ricciardo is focusing on projects outside the intense world of Formula 1. He is developing his lifestyle brand, Enchanté, and has taken on a role as a global ambassador for Ford Racing. This allows him to remain connected to the automotive world while pursuing his own interests. “It still keeps me linked to the automotive world, but I’m not just a poster boy for F1,” he explained. “I can kind of do my own thing but stay in that space.”
Ricciardo’s journey represents a significant shift for a driver who spent years at the pinnacle of motorsport. His willingness to embrace a different path, and his candid admission that the prospect of returning to the F1 lifestyle now fills him with trepidation, offers a rare glimpse into the personal toll of a demanding career and the search for fulfillment beyond the racetrack.