Daniel Ricciardo reflects on life after Formula 1 and the intense reality of the F1 paddock. Daniel Ricciardo has opened up about life after Formula 1.

F1 | Daniel Ricciardo opens up about life after Formula 1: “The pace was too intense”

Daniel Ricciardo has admitted that stepping away from Formula 1 made him realise just how unusual the lifestyle of an F1 driver really is. After spending years inside the relentless rhythm of the Formula 1 paddock, the Australian says only now, from the outside, has he fully understood how intense that environment had become.

Speaking to the media, the former Red Bull and McLaren driver reflected candidly on the demands of life at the highest level of motorsport.

“I was inside the Formula 1 bubble for so long. I got used to how intense the schedule was, the paddock, everything, and that had become normal for me. But now that I’m outside of it, I think: ‘Oh, that was anything but normal.’ The schedule was planned down to the minute.”

Life after Formula 1 for Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career came to an end after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, closing the chapter on one of the most popular and charismatic careers of the modern era. Since stepping away from the grid, the Australian has started exploring different personal and professional interests, including promoting his wine brand during the Indianapolis 500 weekend.

His time away from Formula 1 has also sparked curiosity about how other forms of motorsport compare, particularly when it comes to driver lifestyle and race-week routines.

Comparing Formula 1 with IndyCar life

Daniel Ricciardo revealed that he is particularly interested in understanding how the experience of IndyCar drivers differs from the tightly controlled, high-pressure environment of Formula 1.

“I wonder what a typical week looks like for you [Conor Daly] around the biggest race of the year,” Ricciardo said. “The kind of schedule you have and how much personal time you get compared to the time when you need to be fully switched on. I’m curious to understand what it’s really like—how relaxed the drivers are, or whether they are just as intense and focused throughout the entire weekend.”

For a driver who spent so many years living within Formula 1’s famously demanding structure, the contrast with other racing categories may offer a fascinating perspective on life beyond the Grand Prix world.