Daniel Ricciardo says he’s uncertain if racing in one other collection would deliver him the success he craves that was missing with out with the ability to battle for high ends in System 1.
Purple Bull introduced on Thursday that it has dropped Ricciardo in favor of Liam Lawson for the rest of the 2024 season, with no suggestion the Australian may very well be within the body for a spot on the F1 grid in 2025. Talking earlier than his future was formally confirmed, Ricciardo admitted he has thought of different racing classes up to now and may very well be with the F1 door closed, though he has nothing particular in thoughts.
“IndyCar nonetheless scares me!” Ricciardo mentioned. “I imply, I’ve considered it as a result of I additionally considered it a few years in the past once I knew that I wasn’t going to start out the ’23 season. I don’t know. I do know I’m nonetheless a competitor. I do know I nonetheless have plenty of hearth in me. Possibly that itch is scratched doing one thing else, I don’t know. We’ll see.
“It’s onerous. Even speaking about being within the sport [F1] and combating for even a tenth place every so often… It’s perhaps the identical with doing one other collection, and no disrespect to different collection — I’m a fan of NASCAR and plenty of different types of motorsport — however as a result of I’ve been there and skilled the best of highs, will I get true success doing one thing else?
“No assure I’ll be superior doing one thing else. Is that really going to scratch the itch and provides me what I would like? I don’t know. I’d most likely say extra no than sure.”
Nevertheless, whereas Ricciardo will likely be weighing up his curiosity in racing in different classes now that his future has been confirmed, he says his temporary spell away from full-time F1 after leaving McLaren means he has no concern of a life outdoors the game.
“Oh, outdoors racing, yeah [there’s fulfilling interests]. As a result of I’ve already skilled a little bit of it, I don’t have a concern of not swiping into the paddock. I’ve liked it and it’s nice, however I’ve additionally happily made mates with different athletes over time which have been in an identical place. What does sort of section two of life appear to be?
“I feel there’s loads to do, plenty of alternatives. It’s not something I’m petrified of.”
