A year after leaving Formula 1, Daniel Ricciardo is opening up about his life post-racing.
The 36-year-old Australian driver recently spoke at a conference in his native Australia, describing a period of “self-exploration” to figure out who he is beyond the racetrack.
With a new beard he jokingly calls his “comfort,” Ricciardo said, “This year has been a bit of self-exploration… I’ve been trying to figure out who I am other than this race car driver.”
Since his final race at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, he has embraced a quieter life, including a hiking trip to Alaska.
He also shared a new appreciation for family and friends, and a conscious effort to be “a bit more selfless.”
Reflecting on his career, Ricciardo admitted, “I never thought I’d have the career I had and make it to F1,” and sometimes finds it hard to believe he actually won races like Monaco.