Ricciardo expresses 'gratitude' for being let go following his difficulties in F1.
"I had been dismissed twice in the past two years."
Daniel Ricciardo expresses that being dropped from Formula 1 ultimately felt like a relief after two challenging years that left him drained. In a conversation with Ford CEO Jim Farley, the Australian shared his feelings about concluding his F1 career following his last experiences with McLaren and a short-lived comeback.
"2022 was tough for me, my second year at McLaren. They let me go," Ricciardo said. "So, in 2023, I started without a seat and thought - is this it? Should I just call it quits? But I knew there was still a strong desire within me."
Now 36, Ricciardo returned with Red Bull-owned Alpha Tauri mid-season, but his comeback faced challenges. "I got back into the car midway through the season. In my second or third race, I broke my hand in what seemed like a minor accident. I missed several races, I think I was out for about 10 weeks. I wondered if this was a sign to walk away while I still could. But I told myself, no, there’s still work left to do."
Unfortunately, his second opportunity also ended in disappointment. "I pushed through and managed to remain in F1 for another year before ultimately being let go. That was the reality back then."
Reflecting on his journey, Ricciardo acknowledges the repeated setbacks significantly affected him. "I had been let go twice in two years, and it took a toll on me. I invested a lot of my passion into it and felt quite drained by the experience. In hindsight, I was grateful for their decision on my behalf."
The eight-time Grand Prix winner admits he had already started to recognize that his performance was not up to par. "I think I realized I was probably nearing the end because it became more difficult for me to compete at my previous level. Drivers like Alonso are still competing at a high level in their 40s. For whatever reason, I lost a bit of my edge, and it's okay to acknowledge that. It’s perfectly fine."
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Ricciardo expresses 'gratitude' for being let go following his difficulties in F1.
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