F1 Beyond The Grid

Daniel Ricciardo: 'refinding myself after Formula 1'

F1 Beyond The Grid

Show Notes

'I still don't like how it ended. But there's also a part of me which is grateful that they pulled the trigger'. Two years have passed since Daniel Ricciardo left the Formula 1 paddock in Singapore after his final Grand Prix. After racing at the top for more than a decade, he was suddenly no longer an F1 driver. What next?

Daniel has been considering that question ever since that night in 2024. He tells Tom Clarkson about 'going through phases' of different emotions - from 'humiliation' to 'acceptance'. Travel, reconnecting with friends and a lot of introspection is helping him 'refind himself' and figure out what 'chapter two' of his life has in store.

Ricciardo won eight Formula 1 Grands Prix, stood on the podium 32 times and outscored World Champion Sebastian Vettel when they were teammates. But his racing record doesn't tell the full story of life as an F1 driver. Daniel opens up about moments in his career when he felt 'burnt out' and wanted to walk away. He also looks back with pride at his best wins, most spectacular overtaking moves and greatest on-track battles. And he considers his decision to leave Red Bull Racing in 2018; if he had stayed, would he have a World Championship to his name?

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