Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Daniel Ricciardo has revealed he is grateful that Oracle Red Bull Racing made the decision to release him in 2024, a move that ultimately brought his Formula 1 career to a close.
After losing his seat at the McLaren Formula 1 Team at the end of the 2022 season, Ricciardo returned to the paddock in 2023 as a reserve driver for Scuderia AlphaTauri. He was later promoted to a race seat mid-season, replacing Nyck de Vries ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
His comeback campaign, however, was disrupted by a hand injury sustained at Zandvoort, forcing him to miss multiple races. Although he returned to action, Ricciardo remained in the seat until the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix with the team later rebranded as Visa Cash App RB, before being released following the Marina Bay race.
Since stepping away from Formula 1, Ricciardo has maintained a relatively low public profile, while continuing his involvement in motorsport as an ambassador for Ford. Speaking on a podcast hosted by Ford CEO Jim Farley, he offered a candid reflection on the circumstances surrounding his departure.
“I had been let go twice in the last two years, and it had taken a lot out of me. I put my soul into it, and looking back, I was grateful they made that decision for me,” said Ricciardo.
He acknowledged that making the decision to retire independently would have been difficult, despite being aware internally that his performance level was no longer matching the highest standards on the grid.
“Because I think it would have been hard to say ‘I’m done’. I probably knew it, but it’s difficult to admit. When you look at drivers like Fernando Alonso still competing at such a high level in their 40s, I felt that for some reason I had lost a little bit of that edge, and it’s okay to admit that,” he added.
Ricciardo’s reflections highlight the intense competitive demands of modern Formula 1, where marginal performance differences can define career longevity. As younger talent continues to emerge and performance thresholds rise, experienced drivers face increasing pressure to sustain peak output.
Red Bull’s decision to part ways with Ricciardo now appears aligned with a broader long-term restructuring strategy amid the evolving regulatory landscape. Meanwhile, his candid admission provides a clear perspective on the physical and psychological challenges of competing at the highest level, marking a definitive transition into the next phase of his motorsport journey.
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