Daniel Ricciardo enjoying writing a fresh chapter in Formula One
A motivated Daniel Ricciardo now feels like the driver he did “10 years ago” after fearing he might not race again. He opens up on his future F1 plans.
Daniel Ricciardo has revealed his desire to keep racing in Formula 1 for a few more years after winding the clock back a decade to recapture his “young energy” and erase his own fears he might not want to race again.
As he attempts to reboot his F1 career, the affable Australian said he was now certain he wanted to stay on the grid into the future – an answer he was not certain of before his six month sabbatical from the sport.
Now two races into his return with Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri after being parachuted into the axed Nyck De Vries’ seat ahead of the summer break, Ricciardo declared he now felt like the driver he was “10 years ago”.
Ricciardo’s famous smile and energy faded during a challenging period at McLaren, before he stepped away from racing for the first half of 2023 as he served as Red Bull’s third driver.
Asked ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix how far ahead he was planning, a motivated Ricciardo said his intentions about his future were now much clearer.
Imagine walking around zandvoort and you see Daniel ricciardo and his toro rosso coming down the canal? ð pic.twitter.com/DHI0wgZaTd
— chlo ð (@formulachlo) August 24, 2023
“I’m definitely taking it race-by-race but in terms of where I’m at, I’m not just saying ‘Oh yeah, I’m just going to finish racing this season and then see what happens’,” Ricciardo said.
“I want to be racing for a few more years now …. six months ago that was not my answer.
“I didn’t know what my answer was and that was something I was really trying to find out during this time off.
“But coming back in, I’ve described it to some people like it feels like me 10 years ago. I feel like I do have that young energy again and that motivation and ultimately that happiness and that love to be back on the grid and to be racing.
“So, yeah, the plan in my head is a few more years – but as far as performance-wise, I take it race by race.”
After impressing in a test at Silverstone following the British Grand Prix, Ricciardo made his return for AlphaTauri at the Hungarian Grand Prix when he finished 13th.
The 34-year-old then backed up with a 16th place finish at Spa in the Belgian Grand Prix before the summer break.
Ricciardo has previously stated it would be a “fairytale” if he could make a return to the Red Bull senior team where he was a seven-time Grand Prix winner.
While admitting he felt he had a “point to prove”, Ricciardo said he was determined to make sure he enjoyed his “second chapter” after staring at the prospect of not coming back.
“It obviously probably got a bit clouded over the last year or two and I certainly found myself not in a place where I was enjoying it as much as I wanted,” Ricciardo said.
“As I said, six months ago I wasn’t sure if …. I remember we sat down in December and I wasn’t sure if I would get back in the sport, or race again.
“I even take this now as every weekend is a bonus. I’m here, I’m racing, I’m loving it. I’m going to enjoy it.
“There’s not really too much pressure or anything. I feel I have a point to prove, but I’m not carrying too much weight with that.”
chef Daniel's prepared a nice Dutch snack for Yuki: stroopwafels ð#DutchGPpic.twitter.com/cWpGfe2J6t
— Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) August 24, 2023
After his six-month break from the rigours of racing, Ricciardo said
“I had so much time off this year relative to running a full schedule, so I kind of had my break and my time off,” Ricciardo said.
“So, yeah, I didn’t need my summer break … it was a good chance for me to catch up a little bit while the others were switching off.
“I still definitely had a good time and switched from racing, but I was certainly looking after my body more than I usually would on a summer break.
“This second chapter of my journey, I am feeling different about things, and I feel like at least right now where my head’s at, I’m in a very good place and taking it seriously.
“I have some goals to achieve and some things to chase – to be fast.”
While he was initially thrown in at the “deep end” replacing De Vries suddenly, Ricciardo said he was thankful to get the two races under his belt before the break to allow him to attack the second half of the season.
“I’m definitely thankful to get the two races before the break,” Ricciardo said.
“I’m very happy that they kind of threw me in a little bit at the deep end and I think it prepared me a lot better for the second half the season.
“I feel like I’ve hit the ground running.”
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout