By Salma El-Sakka
Former Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of his exit from the sport, describing his 2022 departure from McLaren as a "humiliation" that left him hiding deep pain and sadness.
Struggles after McLaren departure
The Australian, a fan favorite boosted by Netflix's Drive to Survive, was dropped by McLaren after a disappointing 2022 season. He returned to Red Bull as a reserve driver before earning a race seat with the junior team, Racing Bulls, midway through 2023. However, he failed to recapture his previous form against teammate Yuki Tsunoda and was released after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, six races before the season's end.
Podcast reveals emotional toll
Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, the 37-year-old said he initially masked his feelings by staying visible in public. "I was having a good time and having a drink or whatever and I was just really hiding from what I really felt deep inside, which was a lot of pain and sadness," he said. Ricciardo has since confirmed his retirement from all forms of motorsport, though he remains a global ambassador for Ford Racing.
Career achievements and retirement
Ricciardo's career spanned 14 seasons, yielding eight grand prix victories and 32 podium finishes. His best championship results were third place in 2014 and 2016 with Red Bull. His final win came at Monza in 2021. He now says he looks back with pride: "I look back now with much more of a smile than I did a couple years ago."
Recent driver changes at Racing Bulls
Following Ricciardo's exit, Liam Lawson took his seat at Racing Bulls and now partners rookie Arvid Lindblad. Meanwhile, Tsunoda was promoted to the senior Red Bull team but lost his seat to Isack Hadjar.
