It's almost been a year since Daniel Ricciardo participated in a Formula 1 race. He hardly spoke about his departure afterwards. Meanwhile, the Australian has given an update about his past year.
The former Red Bull driver was a guest on the Ray White Connect conference, where the main discussion was about his life after being forced to leave the pinnacle of motorsport. "Well, I haven’t been shaving my face," Ricciardo initially jokes.
“I’ve been trying to figure out who I am other than this race car driver.
“I’ve had a lot of time, I’ve done some hiking. I was in Alaska a few weeks ago and didn’t get mauled by a grizzly which was a bonus!"
This year, Ricciardo finally had a bit of peace and didn't have to steer a Formula 1 car weekend after weekend. His time in motorsports has had a big impact, he explained.
“This year has been a bit of self-exploration. I lived this crazy high-speed life for so long and this year I’ve sat into a little bit of stillness."
Selfishness sometimes took over Ricciardo
"I’ve come to appreciate the little thing more and the meaning of the importance of family and friends," continues the Australian, who indicates that the Formula 1 world has quite changed him as a person.
“I’ve always been driven and that sometimes leads you to being selfish, so I’m trying to learn to be a bit more selfless and become a better listener.”
Ricciardo also reflected on his younger years. "“Childhood was great. I was always driven to do something that scared me a bit.
“The reason I got into racing was because no one was really doing it. It was my chance to do something a little bit cooler than everyone else.
“I was just showing off, but showing off has got me to a really good place in life.”
Ricciardo's Formula 1 adventure ended after the Singapore Grand Prix in 2024. Racing Bulls pushed the Australian aside and made room for Liam Lawson. The Australian won eight races during his career and stood on the podium a total of 32 times.
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