Daniel Ricciardo insists that he isn't "scared" by a lack of competitive F1 seats available in 2024. After a difficult two-year spell with McLaren resulted in him leaving the team at the end of 2022, Ricciardo opted to watch from the sidelines in 2023, having taken a reserve driver position at Red Bull. However, the Australian has previously suggested that he hopes to return to the grid next year, though there do not currently look to be many positions opening up with the leading teams. Despite this, Ricciardo isn't worried and acknowledges that his decision not to race in 2023 brought with it an element of "risk".
Ricciardo not 'scared' by lack of 2024 F1 seats
"It doesn't scare me. It's always been like that," Ricciardo told Top Gear . "And I knew this was going to be a risk obviously removing myself from a seat. But I think it's clear what I don't want. I don't want [just] any seat next year, as much as I think I want to be racing again. "I don't want to just start from zero, and kind of build my [F1] career from scratch. It's not coming from an arrogant place. But I'm just past that. "I don't think that's going to stimulate me or give me that second wind I'm looking for. So it makes the top seats even scarcer. But that's where I know I will be able to perform at my best and thrive. "That's the sort of stuff I'm keeping my eyes on."
'Learning a lot' through time away from F1
While Ricciardo will attend races for Red Bull as a reserve driver in 2023 as well as supporting the team with simulator work and commercial activities, the eight-time race winner has also been pursuing other interests since stepping away from the grid. "I think [I’m] also understanding the things I've learnt in these first three months, the things I want to invest more energy in," he explained. "And there's other things, which are like, alright, I'll remove these from my plate, and just kind of spend more quality time on fewer projects as opposed to just scattered efforts on many. "The two big ones for me I'd say are the wine [DR3 X St Hugo Wines], and the clothing business [Enchante by Daniel Ricciardo]. These are the things I'm genuinely really enjoying and invested in. "So they're my fun little hobbies. I say hobbies. They’re turning into something else. But they're my fun projects on the side. "And then it's [also] nice just getting time to myself. Honestly I didn't train for like two months, because I just needed to give myself time off. And now I'm getting back into it, and I want to be getting fit again. "I don't know. I'm just learning a lot through all of this."
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