Ricciardo says he was burning out as Red Bull dream persisted

Daniel Ricciardo says he still wanted a return to Red Bull and another chance to race at the front alongside Max Verstappen, even as he became increasingly burned out during his final years in Formula 1. In a Beyond The Grid podcast interview last month, he said it had become harder to perform and compete at the level he once had.

Ricciardo described a build-up of pain and experiences over several years that became hard to shut out. He said he remained hungry to prove himself, though there were moments when he no longer wanted to be in Formula 1.

His last F1 race was the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. Red Bull chose Liam Lawson for the second RB seat. Ricciardo said he still disliked how his career ended but was grateful the decision was made. Looking back, he would not want to still be racing.