Daniel Ricciardo has seemingly confirmed his retirement from Formula 1 during an impromptu interview with a fan at an airport. The 36-year-old Australian, who has kept a low profile since leaving the sport last year, spoke candidly about his career and future plans.
Reflecting on his time in F1, Ricciardo admitted it took him a while to realise he was living his dream. 'It took me a long time to realise I was actually doing it because, yeah, it's a dream and you think about it as a kid. And when you're there and you make it, you're like, 'Wow'. It happens very quick, but I mean obviously, I'm very appreciative for the career that I had and very grateful to do what I loved for some time,' he said.
When asked if he could find something to replace the adrenaline rush of racing, Ricciardo replied: 'No... so that's what I'll... second half of my life I'll try and find that another way, I guess.' These comments appear to end any speculation of a return to F1, including persistent rumours linking him with the new Cadillac team.
Ricciardo's career decline began after his move from Renault to McLaren in 2021, where he was consistently outperformed by teammate Lando Norris. He was dropped a year before his contract ended and made a brief comeback with the junior Red Bull team (Racing Bulls) but failed to impress, leaving in the second half of the 2024 season.
Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon recently confirmed that Ricciardo is not interested in returning. 'Actually, I think he has publicly said that he is not interested in Formula 1. If I need to convince someone, then it is the wrong person,' Lowdon said.
