{"id":1868222,"date":"2026-04-05T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1868222"},"modified":"2026-04-05T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T05:00:00","slug":"daniel-ricciardo-grateful-for-f1-axing-that-spared-difficult-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1868222","title":{"rendered":"Daniel Ricciardo &#8220;grateful&#8221; for F1 axing that spared difficult decision"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-05\/XPB_1309178_HiRes.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;]<\/p>\n<article>\n<header id=\"lbs-article\" class=\"article header article-header section layout layout--article-header\">\n<div class=\"col headline\">\n<div>\n<h1>Daniel Ricciardo &#8220;grateful&#8221; for F1 axing that spared difficult decision<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Daniel Ricciardo lost his seat following the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section two-column\">\n<div class=\"col article-info\">\n<div>\n<address> Sam Hall <\/address>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><time datetime=\"2026-04-06T08:30:03+00:00\">Updated: 06 Apr 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col article-actions\">\n<div class=\"block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block\">\n<div class=\"social-sharing-buttons\"><span class=\"ssb-title\"> Share<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div id=\"lbs-content\" class=\"content wide-two-column-sticky section layout layout--wide-two-column-sticky\">\n<div class=\"col first-column\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-05\/XPB_1309178_HiRes.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-05\/XPB_1309178_HiRes.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-05\/XPB_1309178_HiRes.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-05\/XPB_1309178_HiRes.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-05\/XPB_1309178_HiRes.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-05\/XPB_1309178_HiRes.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-05\/XPB_1309178_HiRes.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-05\/XPB_1309178_HiRes.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-05\/XPB_1309178_HiRes.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Daniel Ricciardo<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-preferred-source\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source-cta\">  Add as a preferred source <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Daniel Ricciardo has revealed he is &#8220;grateful&#8221; to RB for taking the &#8220;hard&#8221; decision out of his hands to exit Formula 1, after a difficult final comeback attempt.<\/p>\n<p>Ricciardo was one of the best drivers in F1 at his pomp, but after leaving Red Bull to join Renault in 2019 he was rarely able to recapture his race-winning potential.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Despite taking victory for McLaren in the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, McLaren&#8217;s first success since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix with Jenson Button, the team dropped him at the end of 2022, and he was unable to secure a full-time seat for the following campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Announced as Red Bull&#8217;s reserve driver, he returned to action with AlphaTauri midway through the season, only to injure his wrist in a crash at Zandvoort on his third race weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It was such a nothing accident, but I missed however many races, I was out for 10 weeks or something,&#8221; said Ricciardo in a video released by Ford.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cIs this now a bit of a sign, like, should I just quit while I\u2019m ahead, nearly. And I was like, no, there\u2019s still unfinished business, and I pushed through it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ricciardo was retained by the team &#8211; then RB &#8211; for 2024, but results were hard to come by, and he was replaced by Liam Lawson following the Singapore Grand Prix.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-c4369e66703aaf1779794c98fe07f355f96e3bdbbb51810ca47ff6f8aa5ffe8f\">  Ex-F1 teammates Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo set for rare Red Bull reunion   Daniel Ricciardo gave Max Verstappen blessing to use old F1 number <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cOnce that happened, I\u2019d been let go twice in the last two years. It had also taken a lot out of me. I\u2019d put a lot of my soul into it and I did feel pretty exhausted by it,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn reflection, I was grateful that they made the decision for me, because I think it would have been hard to [say]: \u2018I\u2019m done\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ricciardo added: \u201cI think I knew I was probably done because I knew that it was harder for me to perform at the level I could.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-1fd7be0eb1517504facb0562247cca65e930c9a6b788d17911b13853bc1f0439\">  Theory ties McLaren\u2019s Las Vegas DSQ to decision to replace Daniel Ricciardo   Why Max Verstappen wants Daniel Ricciardo\u2019s old F1 race number <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cOkay, Alonso, these guys, they\u2019re in their forties in F1, [still] competing very highly. For whatever reason, I lost a little bit of something, and it\u2019s okay to admit it, it\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite the difficult few years, there was still a longing to see the likeable Australian return to his best form, and Ricciardo was not short of people who would offer encouragement to get back in the cockpit. Shutting this out, Ricciardo says, was crucial to accepting his situation.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s people that love you and will still tell you that you\u2019re great and you can do it. But as much as you love them as well, you need to just close the door and make that decision on your own and be really honest with yourself,&#8221; he reflected.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I would have got to the end of last year, I think I would have still had a lot of these thoughts and had the conversation with myself because I knew it was becoming harder for me and I had to dig really deep to pull out a result that I was proud of.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou always want to believe everyone\u2019s looking out for you, and they probably still are, but they don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be you and in your situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>In this article<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">F1<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">2026<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Daniel Ricciardo<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-next-prev\">\n<div class=\"next-prev-pager contextual-region\">\n<div class=\"items\">\n<div class=\"item prev\">\n<h3>  Previous<\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Fernando Alonso concedes Aston Martin &#8220;a few months&#8221; from F1 recovery<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/2266570748.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/2266570748.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/2266570748.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/2266570748.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/2266570748.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/2266570748.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/2266570748.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/2266570748.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/2266570748.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item next\">\n<h3> Next <\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Haas \u201chave to be happy\u201d if Ferrari poaches \u201cfaultless\u201d Ollie Bearman for F1 2027<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404244_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404244_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404244_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404244_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404244_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404244_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404244_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404244_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404244_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-block block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<div class=\"author-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-6dc4ea54cf194e4ad8443297749cd28efbe1c9a6d7598f26f0ba80988346da9f\">\n<div class=\"card user default\">\n<div class=\"image\"> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/whatsapp-image-2026-03-05-at-12.30.04.jpeg?height=270&amp;format=webp 270w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/whatsapp-image-2026-03-05-at-12.30.04.jpeg?height=180&amp;format=webp 180w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/whatsapp-image-2026-03-05-at-12.30.04.jpeg?height=90&amp;format=webp 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"header\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"name\">Sam Hall<\/div>\n<div class=\"role\">F1 Writer<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"desc\">\n<p>Sam joined Crash.net in February 2026 with extensive experience in motorsport media, having covered numerous championships around the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views-blockrelated-content-related-content-block\">\n<h3>More News<\/h3>\n<div class=\"grid-view grid-2 js-view-dom-id-cc1ea62fc07056e35d49eaa922431e22fbb4ed4198cf8206a55ba60a25bf5f77\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Daniel Ricciardo spotted alongside Sky F1 presenter forced to miss Sao Paulo GP<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1762764824\"> 10\/11\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-11\/xpb_1286076_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Daniel Ricciardo\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Daniel Ricciardo breaks F1 silence to hail \u201cridiculous\u201d Max Verstappen after US GP win<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1760908643\"> 19\/10\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-10\/xpb_1286977_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Liam Lawson opens up on Daniel Ricciardo\u2019s support a year after replacing him in F1<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1759415030\"> 02\/10\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-10\/si202408230261.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Red Bull tease prospect of Daniel Ricciardo F1 paddock return after retirement<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1757681333\"> 12\/09\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-09\/xpb_1304591_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Daniel Ricciardo has announced his retirement from racing\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Daniel Ricciardo confirms retirement from racing as next venture revealed<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1757076277\"> 05\/09\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-09\/g0flfxjxyaa2u31.jpeg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Ricciardo has become a Ford ambassador \" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Daniel Ricciardo &#8220;trying to figure out who I am&#8221; after abrupt F1 exit<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1754919780\"> 11\/08\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-08\/xpb_1296950_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Daniel Ricciardo has no interest in an F1 return \" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col second-column\">\n<div class=\"sticky\">\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Daniel Ricciardo lost his seat following the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Daniel Ricciardo has revealed he is &#8220;grateful&#8221; to RB for taking the &#8220;hard&#8221; decision out of his hands to exit Formula 1, after a difficult final comeback attempt.<\/p>\n<p>Ricciardo was one of the best drivers in F1 at his pomp, but after leaving Red Bull to join Renault in 2019 he was rarely able to recapture his race-winning potential.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Despite taking victory for McLaren in the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, McLaren&#8217;s first success since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix with Jenson Button, the team dropped him at the end of 2022, and he was unable to secure a full-time seat for the following campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Announced as Red Bull&#8217;s reserve driver, he returned to action with AlphaTauri midway through the season, only to injure his wrist in a crash at Zandvoort on his third race weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It was such a nothing accident, but I missed however many races, I was out for 10 weeks or something,&#8221; said Ricciardo in a video released by Ford.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cIs this now a bit of a sign, like, should I just quit while I\u2019m ahead, nearly. And I was like, no, there\u2019s still unfinished business, and I pushed through it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ricciardo was retained by the team &#8211; then RB &#8211; for 2024, but results were hard to come by, and he was replaced by Liam Lawson following the Singapore Grand Prix.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-c4369e66703aaf1779794c98fe07f355f96e3bdbbb51810ca47ff6f8aa5ffe8f\">  Ex-F1 teammates Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo set for rare Red Bull reunion   Daniel Ricciardo gave Max Verstappen blessing to use old F1 number <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cOnce that happened, I\u2019d been let go twice in the last two years. It had also taken a lot out of me. I\u2019d put a lot of my soul into it and I did feel pretty exhausted by it,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn reflection, I was grateful that they made the decision for me, because I think it would have been hard to [say]: \u2018I\u2019m done\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ricciardo added: \u201cI think I knew I was probably done because I knew that it was harder for me to perform at the level I could.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-1fd7be0eb1517504facb0562247cca65e930c9a6b788d17911b13853bc1f0439\">  Theory ties McLaren\u2019s Las Vegas DSQ to decision to replace Daniel Ricciardo   Why Max Verstappen wants Daniel Ricciardo\u2019s old F1 race number <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cOkay, Alonso, these guys, they\u2019re in their forties in F1, [still] competing very highly. For whatever reason, I lost a little bit of something, and it\u2019s okay to admit it, it\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite the difficult few years, there was still a longing to see the likeable Australian return to his best form, and Ricciardo was not short of people who would offer encouragement to get back in the cockpit. Shutting this out, Ricciardo says, was crucial to accepting his situation.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s people that love you and will still tell you that you\u2019re great and you can do it. But as much as you love them as well, you need to just close the door and make that decision on your own and be really honest with yourself,&#8221; he reflected.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I would have got to the end of last year, I think I would have still had a lot of these thoughts and had the conversation with myself because I knew it was becoming harder for me and I had to dig really deep to pull out a result that I was proud of.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou always want to believe everyone\u2019s looking out for you, and they probably still are, but they don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be you and in your situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Daniel Ricciardo has revealed he is &#8220;grateful&#8221; to RB for taking the &#8220;hard&#8221; decision out of his hands to exit Formula 1, after a difficult final comeback attempt.<\/p>\n<p>Ricciardo was one of the best drivers in F1 at his pomp, but after leaving Red Bull to join Renault in 2019 he was rarely able to recapture his race-winning potential.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Despite taking victory for McLaren in the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, McLaren&#8217;s first success since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix with Jenson Button, the team dropped him at the end of 2022, and he was unable to secure a full-time seat for the following campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Announced as Red Bull&#8217;s reserve driver, he returned to action with AlphaTauri midway through the season, only to injure his wrist in a crash at Zandvoort on his third race weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It was such a nothing accident, but I missed however many races, I was out for 10 weeks or something,&#8221; said Ricciardo in a video released by Ford.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cIs this now a bit of a sign, like, should I just quit while I\u2019m ahead, nearly. And I was like, no, there\u2019s still unfinished business, and I pushed through it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ricciardo was retained by the team &#8211; then RB &#8211; for 2024, but results were hard to come by, and he was replaced by Liam Lawson following the Singapore Grand Prix.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-c4369e66703aaf1779794c98fe07f355f96e3bdbbb51810ca47ff6f8aa5ffe8f\">  Ex-F1 teammates Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo set for rare Red Bull reunion   Daniel Ricciardo gave Max Verstappen blessing to use old F1 number <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cOnce that happened, I\u2019d been let go twice in the last two years. It had also taken a lot out of me. I\u2019d put a lot of my soul into it and I did feel pretty exhausted by it,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn reflection, I was grateful that they made the decision for me, because I think it would have been hard to [say]: \u2018I\u2019m done\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ricciardo added: \u201cI think I knew I was probably done because I knew that it was harder for me to perform at the level I could.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-1fd7be0eb1517504facb0562247cca65e930c9a6b788d17911b13853bc1f0439\">  Theory ties McLaren\u2019s Las Vegas DSQ to decision to replace Daniel Ricciardo   Why Max Verstappen wants Daniel Ricciardo\u2019s old F1 race number <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cOkay, Alonso, these guys, they\u2019re in their forties in F1, [still] competing very highly. For whatever reason, I lost a little bit of something, and it\u2019s okay to admit it, it\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite the difficult few years, there was still a longing to see the likeable Australian return to his best form, and Ricciardo was not short of people who would offer encouragement to get back in the cockpit. Shutting this out, Ricciardo says, was crucial to accepting his situation.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s people that love you and will still tell you that you\u2019re great and you can do it. But as much as you love them as well, you need to just close the door and make that decision on your own and be really honest with yourself,&#8221; he reflected.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I would have got to the end of last year, I think I would have still had a lot of these thoughts and had the conversation with myself because I knew it was becoming harder for me and I had to dig really deep to pull out a result that I was proud of.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou always want to believe everyone\u2019s looking out for you, and they probably still are, but they don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be you and in your situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/f1\/news\/1092875\/1\/daniel-ricciardo-grateful-f1-axing-spared-difficult-decision&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-05\/XPB_1309178_HiRes.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] Daniel Ricciardo &#8220;grateful&#8221; for F1 axing that spared difficult decision Daniel Ricciardo lost his seat following the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. Sam Hall Updated: 06 Apr 2026 Share Daniel Ricciardo Add as a preferred source Daniel Ricciardo has revealed he is &#8220;grateful&#8221; to RB for taking the &#8220;hard&#8221; decision out of his [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[47,226],"class_list":["post-1868222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crash-net","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868222","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1868222"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868222\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1868222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1868222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1868222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}