Daniel Ricciardo reflected on his Formula 1 career in an interview with the Beyond the Grid podcast, where F1 Maximaal.nl reported that the Australian driver discussed his underlying competitiveness and his differing relationship with driving compared to peers like Max Verstappen. Ricciardo explained that while he possessed a fierce drive to win, he did not share the absolute obsession with driving itself that characterized drivers like Verstappen and Fernando Alonso.
Driving Tests and Reluctance Behind the Wheel
Ricciardo acknowledged that he often dreaded test days throughout his career, describing them as some of the most difficult obligations of being a grand prix driver. “I had a real hatred for testing. Those were literally the four worst days of my year. I just never wanted to be there,” Ricciardo said on the podcast. While his public image featured a trademark smile and relaxed demeanor, he maintained that the commercial obligations and surrounding pressures of Formula 1 sometimes detracted from the simple act of driving. He noted that this attitude had been present since his karting days and was not something that only emerged in the later stages of his career.
Max Verstappen comes to awkward realisation after Daniel Ricciardo conversation:— Max Verstappen, once the youngest driver in F1 history, has realized he's now among the older drivers on the grid. This realization came during a conversation with Daniel Ricciardo, highlighting… pic.twitter.com/ECAhBquCkB
Contasting Perspectives with Max Verstappen
Reflecting on his time alongside Verstappen at Red Bull Racing, Ricciardo pointed to the Dutchman as the primary example of a driver whose life remained entirely dedicated to racing. Ricciardo noted that Verstappen prioritized success above all else, choosing to bypass celebrity culture and commercial distractions to focus solely on beating opponents. “His thought is actually: if I am the best in the world, then the rest will take care of itself,” Ricciardo observed. This singular focus contrasts with Ricciardo’s own career path, which saw him leave Red Bull for Renault in 2018 before stints with McLaren and AlphaTauri/RB that ended ahead of the 2024 season. Ricciardo had spent ten years in the Red Bull family since the beginning of his junior single-seater career, securing race victories and a pole position in 2018 before deciding he needed a change because he felt he was becoming too comfortable and complacent.
Reflections on Career Choices and Regret
Discussing his departure from Red Bull, Ricciardo admitted in coverage highlighted by Motorsport that curiosity remains about how his career might have unfolded had he stayed with the Milton Keynes-based outfit, which subsequently secured multiple championships with Verstappen. Ricciardo told the podcast that whether the sentiment is called regret or mere curiosity, he remains uncertain how to categorize the “what if” scenario. RacingNews365 noted that Ricciardo acknowledged feeling that he had grown too comfortable at Red Bull before making his move, though he emphasized that he refused to diminish Verstappen’s accomplishments. After joining Renault, Ricciardo failed to secure any podium finishes in 2019 while Renault lost fourth place in the constructors’ standings to McLaren. Before the 2020 campaign even began—having been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic—he signed with McLaren for 2021. His time at McLaren proved extremely difficult, highlighted by a surprising victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, which ultimately led to him not seeing out his contract and being replaced by compatriot Oscar Piastri for the 2023 season before a final, shortened stint at AlphaTauri/RB.
Future Racing Ambitions Beyond Formula 1
Following his departure from the Formula 1 grid after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, Ricciardo has considered closing his professional racing career on his own terms. Autoblog reported that the Australian driver mentioned a potential one-off appearance in endurance racing, expressing interest in competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside Verstappen. While Verstappen addressed the idea during media sessions ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, as covered by Headliner, he noted that preparation constraints make such a joint venture unlikely in the immediate term due to demanding schedules.
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