Daniel Ricciardo has made a commitment to retire from Formula 1 before turning 40, affirming that he will not follow in the footsteps of his competitor Fernando Alonso.
The beloved Aussie will step into an F1 cockpit on a race weekend for the first time in 2023 when the drivers turn out at the Hungaroring this weekend after he was drafted in as Nyck de Vries’ replacement.
Ricciardo’s chances of making a comeback to the F1 grid seemed unlikely after two difficult years with McLaren. However, De Vries’ decline has provided an opportunity for Ricciardo.
Ricciardo has a great opportunity to return to the Red Bull team if he performs well with AlphaTauri this season, thanks to the departure of the Dutchman and the challenges faced by Sergio Perez.
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Daniel has a time limit of five years.
“Ideally, no,” Ricciardo responded to The Independent when questioned about the possibility of pursuing a racing career into his forties, similar to Alonso.
“Ideally, I would have achieved significant success within the next five years. I believe there is something admirable about ending on a high note,” he commented.
Ricciardo then discussed his feelings towards retirement as he enters the final stage of his motorsport career.
He stated: “This is my domain, but what this year has demonstrated is that I am content with life after retiring. I have discovered interests and other activities to occupy my time.”
Many athletes find the idea of retirement to be intimidating – what comes next? After living a fast-paced life for an extended period, transitioning can be overwhelming.
“For me, envisioning a period of incredible achievement in the next three to five years, followed by a state of tranquility.”
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