Daniel Ricciardo reveals surprise retirement location

Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 career is on shaky ground and now it’s emerged he’s already thinking about where he’d like to retire.

“Mate, if I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up.”

They’re the words uttered by Aussie F1 star Daniel Ricciardo during a recent road trip with his good mate Blake Mills as the pair explored Margaret River in his home state of Western Australia.

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If anything, a break and a couple of glasses of vino in the premium wine region is exactly what Ricciardo needs given his shaky last few years.

The racing legend was dropped by McLaren at the end of 2022 after two seasons despite having a year left on his contract – and now Red Bull is rumoured to let him go after this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.

“If it ended today, I would be proud of what I’ve done,” he told CNN.

“But on the same note, you’re never fully satisfied because the reason I got into Formula 1 was to try to become world champion. That’s something I’ll obviously still try and achieve until the day I retire.”

But, speaking of retiring, the 35-year-old revealed that when it comes time to take off the gloves, Margaret River is where he wants to live.

Daniel Ricciardo and his good mate Blake Mills (pictured) embarked on a road trip exploring the countryside of the South West, driving through Western Australia’s premium wine region – Margaret River.

Daniel is part of the second instalment of Western Australia’s Drive the Dream global campaign.

“I could genuinely see myself retiring there one day,” Daniel said as part of Western Australia’s second instalment of Drive the Dream global campaign.

“It’s like whatever weight you carry, that weight just lightens when you when you’re in some of these places so that’s kind of a feeling I get … Margaret River is a place I get that.”

In the cinematic short film, Daniel said he loves the tall Karri trees, forests and beautiful coastline.

“At parts, you know, calm pristine beaches but then beyond maybe a reef break, there’s these massive waves that attract world class surfers. I don’t know it’s just everything about it,” he said.

The short film showcases the state as the ultimate destination for a self-drive holiday, capturing unscripted and authentic moments between Daniel and his childhood friend Blake, as they embark on a road trip from Perth / Boorloo through the Margaret River Region and beyond, inspired by the scenic South West Nature and Wine Drive.

Daniel getting stuck into a glass of vino. Don’t blame him.

He loved Marget River so much he revealed his plan to retire there one day.

“I’ve made a lot of second homes around the world over the years. Europe is a big part of that, but home is still Western Australia for me,” Daniel said in a Q&A with Tourism Western Australia.

“It’s where I still get that flood of nostalgia and those memories. It’s still the place that makes me smile.”

Daniel, who features in the popular tourism campaign for the second time, boasted about the “aura” of Margaret River when revealing it’s somewhere he can see himself retiring.

“There’s like an aura when you arrive, and for me that feeling is, the obvious thing

is happiness but it’s like a lightness,” he said.

Clearly living his best life.

“People also make a place and I think everyone is just so connected down there to the place, to the land … everyone just feels so free and happy.

“The way of life there is just my vision of retirement.”

Apart from the wine (of course), other standout features from his trip included surfing, mountain biking and … sunsets.

“I’m a sucker for sunsets. It’s one thing that when I’m home over Christmas and it’s normally my time to kind of unwind and switch off. I make a point to go out and watch sunsets as much as I can,” he said.

A man of many talents.

“When we got to that part of The Cape to Cape, we walked out over the cliffs and … the pictures and the film don’t do it justice because it really is breathtaking.

“That was probably the most beautiful place I’ve ever been able to watch a sunset.”

When asked which other F1 driver he would love to go on a road trip with to explore WA, he picked his former McLaren teammate Lando Norris.

“I semi-randomly got to show Lando (Norris) a little bit of home. He was in Bali for New Years’ and then made a little three day trip out to WA at the start of January,” Daniel said.

“I showed him a little bit of the coast and then the farm. He saw some emus and kangaroos, which is cool, and he was quite taken back by that.

“I guess Lando’s experienced a little bit of it – I would happily show him more. He loved it.

“He’s one that would happily return and love to see more of Western Australia.”