F1, Daniel Ricciardo devastated: ‘Nervous exhaustion’

The Australian pilot: “You could talk about a burnout, I’m not afraid to admit it.”

Daniel Ricciardo in an interview with the Beyond the Grid podcast talked about his break from the circus: after four difficult years between Renault and McLaren, he will not be on the grid next season.

“The more days went by and, especially with the three consecutive Spa-Zandvoort-Monza races, the more it became clear to me how in my situation it wasn’t about a phone call; it was about recognizing that ultimately I didn’t want to race in 2023.”

“I’m glad that a top team didn’t contact me, because it’s one of those where you probably feel compelled to sign. But I think in my gut I just wanted to get away. You could talk about a burnout, I’m not afraid to admit it.”

The hope is to get back to 100 percent psychologically first: “Sometimes the more I do, the more I lose my way-I feel that a break, some time off, would allow me to come back stronger. I know it could be really good for me.”