Riccardo: This year was dedicated to studying myself.

      Daniel Ricciardo, having ended his Formula 1 career, was almost out of the press spotlight, and that was his personal choice, so few people knew what the Australian had been doing during that time.

      Speaking at a conference organized by Ray White, he said he had spent some time traveling. Among other places he visited Alaska and jokingly said he had managed to avoid the prospect of being mauled by wild animals.

      “Basically, I stopped shaving, and now I’m comfortable with my beard,” Daniel, who turned 36 a little over a month ago, said. “This year has also been about getting to know myself. I lived at crazy speeds for so long that this year I decided to dive a little into a world of calm. I have a lot of time, and I decided to take up traveling.

      A few weeks ago I visited Alaska and wasn’t ripped apart by a grizzly, which was a bit of a bonus. I was trying to figure out, if I’m no longer a driver, who am I? I’ve learned to appreciate all sorts of little things more, and I’ve also realized the importance of family and friends.

      I’ve always been driven, and that sometimes leads to selfishness, so now I’m trying to learn to think about myself less and listen to others more…”