Daniel Ricciardo addresses racing return: 'It terrifies me'

Daniel Ricciardo has admitted the prospect of throwing himself back into a competitive racing environment “terrifies” him.

Ricciardo's exit from the F1 grid came after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, after which he returned to Australia and kept a low profile.

His activities included helping out on the family farm as he contemplated his next life chapter after opting to retire from racing.

The eight-time grand prix winner has dipped his toes into various business projects and, more recently, was announced as an ambassador for Ford Racing.

But a return to full-time racing appears to be out of the equation for the 36-year-old, stating the prospect of being exposed to a high-pressure lifestyle scenario no longer appeals to him.

“[It] took me a while to figure it out after racing, probably who I was and what maybe my purpose was beyond just being a race car driver,” he told The Athletic.

“So I’d say I’m much closer to being comfortable with that.

“I sit here just more relaxed, and the thought of going back into a chaotic sort of lifestyle terrifies me, to be honest.”

During his tenure in F1, Ricciardo was well known for his buoyant personality and wide smile, as well as for frequently cracking jokes on camera.

But Ricciardo highlighted that as his racing career began to wind down, he questioned whether it was the lifestyle he wanted to continue pursuing.

“I was always pretty good at putting on a brave face and letting people know that I was good and happy and everything’s fine,” he said.

“But when everything quieted down, and, let’s say, the lights were turned off, I was like, ‘OK, I need to do some soul searching and make sure that I’m good with all this.’

“Jumping back into something as well and having another distraction was not going to help me figure out who I was.”