‘Wasn’t eating’: Daniel Ricciardo’s sad McLaren admission amid $413k break-up move

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed just how much of a toll his on-track woes at McLaren took on him as he makes a $413k break-up move.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 19: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and McLaren prepares to drive in the garage during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 19, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed his health took such a hit during his time at McLaren that he “wasn’t eating much” and was borderline depressed.

The Australian endured a painful two-year stint at McLaren before they replaced him with compatriot Oscar Piastri and parted ways with Ricciardo with a year left on his contract.

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He has returned to Red Bull this year as the team’s reserve driver, rediscovering his love for the sport and reigniting his desire to return to the grid in 2024.

Apart from his win at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, it was a grim two years at McLaren as Ricciardo struggled in an underperforming car.

His downbeat messages over team radio became somewhat soul-destroying and Ricciardo has been open about the fact he was mentally burnt out and in need of a break at the end of last year.

Now he has revealed just how much his on track woes affected him during his time at McLaren.

“I don’t want to like go too far and be like, ‘Yeah, I was depressed’ or whatever but I certainly wasn’t always eating as much,” Ricciardo told RaceFans.Net.

Daniel Ricciardo was not in a good place during his time at McLaren. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

“I think I just wasn’t feeling right. I was honestly just not like my happy self, not my normal self.

“I think as well so much was going on last year, I could feel like I had this kind of nervous energy inside me. I didn’t have an appetite as much. I was just a bit scattered. So yeah, there was certainly some of that. So I was a little thin.”

Ricciardo has one of the sweetest gigs going this year — travelling to around eight races of his choosing for Red Bull and getting paid more than $20 million not to drive for McLaren.

“I’m getting enough of a break where I feel certainly refreshed and happy again,” he said.

“But it’s kind of also reminded of me how cool this environment was and what it’s like to be in a place that I feel I can hopefully get back to a podium.”

In another sign Ricciardo is continuing to move on from his McLaren era, he is selling his McLaren 720S spider.

The purple sports car is listed at a cool A$413,000, if you’ve got that sort of cash lying around.

Sold through McLaren New Forest and featured on AutoTrader, the convertible has just done 7,000 miles and accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds.

my favorite genre of daniel ricciardo pics 🔥 that sexy mclaren 720s 💜 pic.twitter.com/0Kl8K9BYcR

— ece â‘¢ (@ricciardopics) July 18, 2021

“McLaren New Forest are delighted to offer this stunning 720S spider finished in MSO Lantana purple which was used by Daniel Ricciardo during the 2022 F1 season,” the description reads.

“The long list of features includes performance plus pack, convenience pack, exterior carbon fibre upgrade pack 1, interior carbon fibre pack 3, electric & heated memory seats, 360 parking assist plus much more.”

Ricciardo told Total-Motorsport.com he has no hard feelings towards McLaren.

“Maybe it wasn’t the best for me, but I also probably wasn’t the best version of myself,” he said.

Ricciardo is feeling much happier in his Red Bull role. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

“So I’m happy that chapter’s done, and now I’m just eyes forward.”

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said the team snapped Ricciardo up as reserve driver because “Daniel wasn’t done with Formula 1” and it would have been a shame for him to “just whimper out of the sport”.

Ricciardo has done plenty of simulator work so far this year, but his next major milestone will come when he gets to test drive Red Bull’s car after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July.

He has stated his desire to return to a top team, but with Red Bull and Ferrari’s drivers contracted for next year and Lewis Hamilton inching closer to signing another deal with Mercedes, it will take a minor miracle for that to happen.

“I do want to get back next year,” Ricciardo said.

“I do want to compete. I feel more refreshed, and obviously, I’ve flushed out a difficult two years. So I’m in a good place.”

The F1 season continues at the Barcelona Grand Prix this Sunday at 11pm AEST.

Originally published as ‘Wasn’t eating’: Daniel Ricciardo’s sad McLaren admission amid $413k break-up move