Daniel Ricciardo gave an impromptu interview to a fan at an airport, confirming with his answers that he sees himself as retired from the world of Formula One. The beloved Australian, once the de facto star of Netflix’s Drive to Survive, has been largely off-grid since leaving the sport in 2024.
When Ricciardo moved from Renault to McLaren in 2021 to replace Ferrari-bound Carlos Sainz, many saw it as a smart move to a team on the up. However, in hindsight, the gamble proved to be the beginning of the end for the eight-time Grand Prix winner, who was comprehensively beaten by team-mate Lando Norris in the years that followed. After two miserable years in Woking, McLaren opted to make a change, dropping Ricciardo before the end of his contract in favour of rookie Oscar Piastri, who is now fighting for the 2025 Drivers’ Championship title.
The 36-year-old returned briefly with AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls), but never recaptured his spark, and departed with six rounds of the 2024 campaign remaining. Since then, he has enjoyed life away from the media spotlight, although Ricciardo was recently spotted and interviewed by a fan at an airport.
“It took me a long time to realise I was actually doing it (living his dream), because yeah, it’s a dream and you think about it as a kid,” he said. “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.”
Asked if that adrenaline rush could be replaced, Ricciardo continued: “No… so that’s what I’ll… second half of my life I’ll try and find that another way, I guess.”
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These responses effectively end any lingering hopes that Ricciardo could return to the paddock in the future. The Australian had been floated as a potential candidate for the new Cadillac F1 team, but no discussions have taken place between the American constructor and his representatives.
What remains to be seen is whether Ricciardo will retire from motorsport altogether. The 36-year-old has previously expressed a desire to run a NASCAR Cup Series race, having been inspired by racing icon Dale Earnhardt as a child – the seven-time champion’s No.3 machine inspired the Aussie’s own F1 number selection.
“I grew up a fan of NASCAR,” he told Tourism Western Australia last September. “I’d like to drive a NASCAR, I’d love to drive around Daytona, for example. But would I like to compete? Yes and no. I know it’s not what I grew up doing, and I’ll probably get smoked. [So] I don’t know if I need that [but] I would love to experience it.”