Daniel Ricciardo opened up about his F1 comeback, his experience with Red Bull, and his predictions for the future.
Daniel Ricciardo believes he’s ready to return to the Red Bull seat in future, saying he still has the hunger and desire to become an F1 World Champion.
Despite missing the opportunity to reunite with Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2025, the eight-time F1 Grand Prix champion reveals an enduring desire to make a comeback still resides within him.
Daniel Ricciardo: I’m still hungry to do this
Last month, in a comprehensive and exclusive interview with PlanetF1.com, the Australian driver exuded his typical sociable nature as he engaged in a discussion about his return to Formula 1 and his belief that he still possesses a wealth of contributions to offer the sport.
After enduring a few challenging years that made it seem like his F1 career was on the brink of failure, Red Bull’s unwavering belief in his abilities to excel at the highest level is finally starting to pay off.
After receiving a new chassis during the Chinese Grand Prix, Ricciardo’s performance has notably improved and is now comparable to Yuki Tsunoda’s. Previously, Tsunoda had a clear advantage over Ricciardo in the first few races of 2024.
But it was in Miami where the old Daniel Ricciardo re-emerged, racing to fourth place in the Sprint race and holding off Carlos Sainz’s faster Ferrari throughout – even if the race itself didn’t go his way due to a qualifying grid penalty.
Does the veteran of over a decade still possess the hunger to demonstrate the speed and talent that is still present, despite the fact that he is still facing challenges in his career?
He smiles as we start our conversation in the Red Bull Energy Station at Imola, explaining, “This is precisely why I am doing this!”
It is clear that I took a break last year.
“I have returned with a passion, not out of necessity due to poor investments or a need for financial gain.”
To be honest, my determination brought me back here. I firmly believe in my abilities and I’m still driven to succeed. Despite the setback in Miami, I had an impressive Sprint and my hunger to win remains strong. However, the race didn’t go as planned mostly because of the qualifying rounds.
Experiencing the euphoria of the positive outcome brought immense joy, but the subsequent failure to support it on Sunday left me feeling deeply disheartened.
“After my time in Miami, I remained in the United States and spent a delightful week in Los Angeles. It was enjoyable to be in the company of friends and engage in various activities. However, my true desire was to return to the racing track and achieve a significant outcome. Hence, the reason for my continued presence here.”
“I know I can still do it and I remain eager to do so, especially during moments like that on Saturday. This was exactly what I conveyed to Red Bull when I signed the contract with them last year. I made it clear that my intention was not to secure a huge contract or anything trivial, but rather to demonstrate to myself that I am still capable.”
In Miami, against all odds, the car that shouldn’t have ranked so high managed to silence the doubts that had been swirling around Ricciardo in the early months of 2024. It had become evident that his anticipated comeback year hadn’t produced immediate success. However, in a mere 30-minute race, Ricciardo finally found a response to the skeptics, as he openly acknowledged.
“He said, ‘That’s the perfect finishing touch! As competitors, we all possess a slight advantage that allows us to relish in silencing certain individuals.'”
However, the icing is not the main reason why I am doing this; I believe it would not be the appropriate approach. It is solely for the purpose of self-fulfillment.
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Ricciardo has derived his greatest sense of pride from the performance itself, rather than the final outcome. It serves as a personal affirmation that the talent which distinguished him as one of F1’s most promising talents still remains within him.
He expressed, “It is clear that there are numerous individuals in my surroundings who provide support, care for me, and dedicate substantial effort to assisting me as well.”
You also desire to return and share those moments with the people who have supported you. However, your inner competitor remains present.
“I understand that one day, it will likely decrease to some extent. However, that day has not arrived yet. Simply observing the Ferrari behind me throughout the entire race, I realize that I should not be in fourth position.”
Alright, I admit it, I did it and it was fantastic. However, I managed to keep the Ferrari at bay throughout each lap. I remember thinking to myself, “Well done, that was a good lap!”
“That is incredibly impactful. I experienced a sense of accomplishment and thought, ‘This is remarkable. I am engaged in something truly unique, and I have put in significant effort to reach this point again.'”
“It’s incredibly rewarding, not solely for the accolades received, but for the sense of fulfillment in knowing that I am genuinely dedicated to my purpose and have surpassed the expected boundaries.”
Naturally, Ricciardo’s return to RB – a team he had previously raced for as Toro Rosso ten years ago – did require some luck.
Had Nyck de Vries adjusted to Formula 1 more quickly, the door for Ricciardo may not have opened as his struggles paved the way for the Australian driver.
During the initial six months of 2023, Ricciardo faced immense uncertainty regarding his future. Consequently, he acknowledged the possibility of never participating in F1 again and not being able to address the questions he posed to himself.
“He said that at the beginning of the season, when it was quite clear that I was only the backup or third driver, I had a strong belief deep inside me that there was still a burning desire to perform.”
“I was well aware that if an opportunity presented itself, my response would unquestionably be in the affirmative. Nevertheless, as we all know, nothing in life is guaranteed, isn’t it?”
“Due to Nyck’s underperformance, an opportunity presented itself to me, although I was aware that it wasn’t a certainty. While it potentially stemmed from Nyck, I had no idea of its source or if it would even materialize.”
“I consciously made an effort to mentally accept the possibility of never racing in Formula One again. It was beneficial for me to visualize myself in that situation, as it allowed me to discover a certain contentment in leading a different life.”
“It’s somewhat comforting to know that once I finally stop and retire, I’ll be fine. It can be challenging for certain athletes who struggle to discover their purpose or find happiness after dedicating their entire lives to their sport.”
“I found myself intrigued about how I would react. On one side, I had a sense of reassurance that everything would be fine if it didn’t occur, yet deep down, I might have held onto the belief that it would. Thus, I might have claimed to be okay, but secretly, I harbored the hope of returning.”
Daniel Ricciardo: Red Bull’s belief gave me my edge back
Red Bull has played a crucial role in facilitating Ricciardo’s comeback, as the company decided to take a chance on “rebuilding” him after McLaren chose not to continue with the Australian, whom he had spent many years with.
Red Bull’s Christian Horner became well-known for stating that they had a hard time recognizing the Ricciardo they received in early 2023, as he had to undergo a process of unlearning habits acquired during his time with Renault and McLaren.
Red Bull successfully unraveled those habits, and when the chance arose for Ricciardo to drive the RB19 during a Pirelli tyre test last summer, he eagerly seized it.
Red Bull’s conviction in his abilities was solidified by this test, ultimately granting him a seat at AlphaTauri (now RB) and reigniting his journey towards redemption.
To what extent has Red Bull’s steadfast support assisted Ricciardo in regaining his confidence?
He explained that having support from others, both as an individual and as a competitor, has been incredibly valuable to him. It has helped restore his self-belief and given him the confidence to regain his competitive edge. He expressed deep gratitude for this support.
“It compelled me to reflect on all the factors that have led me to where I am today. Throughout life’s journey, whether it pertains to business or simply personal experiences, we continually acquire knowledge, evolve, and develop through firsthand encounters.”
In looking back, how much does the decision to part ways with Red Bull at the end of 2018 trouble him?
He said that he doesn’t look back and have regrets.
“But yeah, I just look back and I understand, ‘Okay, this happened for this’. And, yeah, I chose that at the time.
However, I understand the reasoning behind my decision. If I were to have the same thoughts and perspective as I do now, would I have chosen differently? Most likely.
“At that moment, my decision was influenced by my mindset, but it doesn’t imply any regrets. It’s more like a journey of comprehension that one can go through.”
However, I am extremely grateful for the support they have offered me. It is not solely because they simply enjoy my company.
I had to remind myself that it wasn’t solely because of my niceness, media-friendly attitude, or brand support.
The reason is that they are aware of my enduring speed. I had demonstrated it to them in the past, and they have faith in my ability to still perform. Therefore, if they have confidence in me, then so do I.
However, has the aspiration of becoming a World Champion, the ultimate goal for a racing driver, now eluded him?
If a driver fails to secure a leading position, the chances of fulfilling their dream are not very high. How, then, can they accept and reconcile this reality with their own expectations and aspirations?
He expressed, “I believe the ultimate aspiration remains the same – I mean, who wouldn’t aspire to be a World Champion?”
“I believe that as I navigate this current stage, there have been instances in 2022 where I finished a race and had thoughts like, ‘Perhaps I won’t return to this track again.’ It made me wonder if that particular race was my final one.”
Being back, I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to have a second chance. However, it does not alter the situation.
Despite my gratitude, I still have an immense desire to become the World Champion. I yearn to triumph in races and experience those exhilarating moments once more, as that is the driving force behind our pursuit.
However, achieving fourth place with this team felt like a victory to me. Therefore, if my career were to conclude with this team and I consistently secured fourth place, would I feel satisfied? Absolutely, I would feel content.
“Does it fulfill all my requirements? No, it doesn’t. However, I can still leave with my dignity intact. Although I must admit, even as I say that, I can’t shake this lingering feeling… perhaps it’s my fear of retirement deep down! I convinced myself it wouldn’t happen, so while I claim to be fine, deep inside, I sense there are still more things awaiting me.”
To make that possibility a reality, the initial move would involve securing a position within the Red Bull Racing team. This could potentially entail a reunion with Max Verstappen, a close friend and former teammate, to reignite the formidable driver pairing that the Milton Keynes-based squad had successfully established over the course of several years.
Is he confident about rejoining RBR in the first quarter of 2024, or does he think that the opportunity has passed?
“He said, ‘Yes, definitely, I’m ready.'”
“I believe it hasn’t been lost completely. Admittedly, the future is uncertain. However, I must replicate certain actions, much like I did in Miami, and make them a regular occurrence.”
“However, the definitive moment for me came last year when I took a leap of faith and got into that car. After spending seven to eight months confined to the couch, the lap I completed was the ultimate confirmation I needed. It encompassed everything.”
“I witnessed it firsthand, surrounded by my teammates. The sight of Christian’s smile spoke volumes. It ignited that sense of possibility, that ‘What if?’ moment, and I was able to prove that I still possessed the ability we all believed I had. It was a gratifying experience. Of course, there are no assurances, but I genuinely aspire to return to that position someday and only time will tell. I will persistently strive towards achieving that goal.”
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