Daniel Ricciardo has disclosed the self-doubt and exhaustion that underpinned his pursuit of a Red Bull Racing comeback alongside Max Verstappen. Ricciardo reflected that he recognised career burnout while still aiming for a Red Bull return, a goal he described as a “fairytale.”
His Formula 1 career concluded after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, where he was replaced by Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls. Ricciardo has maintained a low public profile for two years since his departure, but recently discussed this period on the ‘Beyond the Grid’ podcast.
Ricciardo established a reputation as a potential champion during his initial tenure at Red Bull Racing from 2014 to 2018. He outperformed Sebastian Vettel in 2014 and became the team’s lead driver in 2015.
The promotion of Max Verstappen from Toro Rosso in mid-2016 altered the team dynamic, with Verstappen quickly matching Ricciardo’s performance. Ricciardo subsequently sought a new challenge, moving to Renault and then McLaren.
His form at McLaren was inconsistent, despite a victory at Monza in 2021. McLaren ultimately bought out the third year of his contract, sidelining him for the 2023 season.
Ricciardo returned to Formula 1 with AlphaTauri, later rebranded as Racing Bulls, in 2023, replacing Nyck de Vries. A wrist injury sidelined him for several races, allowing Liam Lawson to deputise and demonstrate his capabilities.
Ricciardo secured a full-time seat for 2024 but was aware of Lawson’s potential threat. Following the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, Racing Bulls confirmed Lawson would replace Ricciardo for the remainder of the season, ending Ricciardo’s F1 career.
He admitted to feeling “humiliation” regarding the decline in his competitiveness. Ricciardo expressed gratitude that Red Bull made the decision for him, stating he might not have chosen to retire himself.
Ricciardo revealed moments where he felt “done” and in denial, struggling with a lack of enjoyment for the sport. He acknowledged that performing at his previous level became increasingly difficult due to accumulated pressures over the years.
He drew a comparison between his early career and the current situation of Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. Ricciardo suggested that youth and a lack of “baggage” can be an advantage in F1.
Kimi Antonelli is currently a Mercedes F1 driver and is on the verge of securing the 2026 F1 World Championship. He needs a ninth-place finish at the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix to clinch the title.
Antonelli replaced Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025 after Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. Antonelli has confirmed he will retain his number ’12’ for the 2027 season, even if he becomes champion, opting not to use the number ‘1’.
Liam Lawson, who replaced Ricciardo, was promoted to Red Bull Racing in 2025 but was demoted back to Racing Bulls from the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix due to early season performance. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko acknowledged the promotion was a mistake.
Lawson currently drives for Racing Bulls alongside Arvid Lindblad and sits ninth in the 2026 Drivers’ Standings. His 2027 seat at Racing Bulls is under review, with Nikola Tsolov participating in FP1 at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix as a potential candidate.
Ricciardo, now a Global Ambassador for Ford Racing, has indicated openness to a potential racing comeback. He suggested a one-off event, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, possibly alongside Max Verstappen, could provide a more positive conclusion to his motorsport involvement.
