The winner of the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, bronze medalist of the 2014 and 2016 World Championships, the funniest man on the grid, and a 32-time podium finisher – meet Daniel Ricciardo! After 14 seasons in Formula 1, the RB-Honda RBPT driver of the 2024 season has bid farewell to the sport. In the exclusive interview with NARGIS Magazine shortly before his departure from the professional sport, we discussed his journey, career-defining moments, and what comes next. Now, let’s turn off the lights and dive into the interview!
Arif Rahman during the online interview with Daniel Ricciardo
What inspired you to get into Formula 1 racing?
Formula 1 was my dream because I loved racing from a young age. I watched it on TV, and the first time I drove a go-kart, I fell in love with it. Wanting to become an F1 driver came from understanding early on that they were the fastest and, for me, the coolest race cars in the world. As a kid, I was always competitive, so I thought, if I’m going to try something, I want to aim for the top. I had heroes like Senna and Schumacher, and Formula 1 just seemed like the best thing.
Schumacher was indeed a legend, and I respect that. What are your hobbies besides Formula 1? As far as I know, you’re into paddle…
I got into paddle a lot this year because when I was younger, I also played tennis. In fact, I was playing tennis before I started go-karting, but then I fell in love with karting a bit more. I’ve always enjoyed racket sports, so I picked up paddle this year, and many of the drivers are playing too. It’s fun because we travel a lot together, and we all bring our rackets. I also love bikes, especially motocross. I’m a big fan of watching mixed martial arts – definitely more of a spectator than a participant! I enjoy going to UFC events when I can. I’m also into American football and the NFL. I’m really into sports in general. When I’m not focused on sports, I love music, especially going to live shows.
You’re known for your humour and often make people laugh during interviews after races, but what specifically do you hope your legacy will be? What do you hope to be remembered for in the world of Formula 1?
I’m not entirely sure how I want to be remembered, but I hope I’ve managed to create a following of people who appreciate me not just for my driving, but for who I am as a person. I strive to approach everything with optimism and a genuine love for what I do. I believe in dedicating myself fully to my passions, and I hope that this commitment serves as an example for others, no matter what they’re pursuing. It’s not about being at the top of the field, but about pursuing what you love with heart and dedication. If people remember me as someone who put everything into the sport and had fun while doing it, I’d be happy with that.
Aim for the top
That’s very inspirational! I know you love F1 and have had your ups and downs. You’re one of the best drivers I’ve supported. Speaking of which, there’s a race in your home country, Australia. Which is your favourite track to race on?
The calendar now has so many great tracks, that it’s hard to pick just one. As a driving experience, Montreal stands out. I really enjoy the street circuit there – the way you can jump the car over the curbs and get close to the wall is exhilarating. Montreal is always one I’ve enjoyed a lot. As for venues, I love Melbourne and Austin. The track in Baku is also a lot of fun – it’s a crazy street circuit with tight, technical sections and long, high-speed straights. Winning here in 2017 was one of my favourite races.
That was an incredible race! Baku has the longest straight and the narrowest corner near Maiden Tower. So, is Montreal definitely your top favourite track?
Look, if I had to pick just one, Montreal is definitely one of my favourites. But it depends – out of the 24 tracks, I probably like 23 of them. It’s a pretty great calendar.
You’ve driven on the Baku City Circuit many times and even secured a win here in 2017. What impression did that win leave on you, and how do you feel about the city?
It was a wild race with Vettel and Hamilton behind the safety car. Hamilton was leading, and his headrest was loose. The race itself was absolutely crazy and, in a way, it captured the essence of not just our sport, but any sport. The beauty of sports is that it’s never over until it’s over. You might think the winner is already decided, but nothing is confirmed until the chequered flag falls or the final whistle blows. After about lap five, I came into the pits because I thought I had a problem – something didn’t feel right. The team decided to pit and check the car. I was worried they’d find a serious issue and tell me to retire. Fortunately, they discovered it was just something minor caught in the brake duct, which they cleared. I went back out, starting from what seemed like last place, and figured a great race might get me into the top ten and earn some points. An hour later, I found myself leading the race. It was an unpredictable race – Stroll secured his first podium, and Bottas overtook him at the line. That race really highlights why we love sports: because anything can happen, and you have to fight until the end.
As a kid, I was always competitive
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You’re known for being one of the most social drivers on the grid. How do you engage with your fans?
I always try to stay positive, even on bad days at the track. I remind myself that it might be a fan’s first time at the race, so I do my best to make their experience great. I remember being a fan myself, waiting to see my heroes and hoping for a good interaction. I try to be nice and make a positive impression, even though it’s impossible to sign every autograph – some fans inevitably miss out. With the time I have, I always try to give back something. It’s amazing how some fans go out of their way to make gifts or show their support. I’m not expecting anything, but I’m always impressed by their effort.
We have a big question. You had a great partnership with Max Verstappen at Red Bull, known for its close friendship and good communication. So, what led to your transfer to Renault at the end of the 2018 season?
It was definitely a difficult time because I felt like my career was at a turning point. I was trying to understand what the next few years would look like. I had been with Red Bull Racing for about five years and part of the Red Bull family for around ten years. There was a part of me that felt it was time to go out and try something new, to find a fresh perspective. There were many factors involved. I had different management at the time, and looking back, I might wish some advice had been different. Additionally, my engineer, Simon, who I had worked with throughout my years at Red Bull, was moving to a different role at the factory for the next year. Knowing I would have a new engineer was another factor. Given all these changes, I thought it might be a good time to explore something new and satisfy that curiosity. I wouldn’t say I look back with regret, but things could have been different. Sometimes you turn right when you should have turned left, and things change. But ultimately, it brought me back to the Red Bull family after five or six years. I’m very happy to be back, and while I don’t want to say everything back then made perfect sense, it had its reasons. I’m also okay with acknowledging that it might not have been the best decision.
I remember that in 2018 you had some ups and downs. I’m pretty sure you have a tattoo on your arm related to that period, right?
Yes, it happens. We were just quite unlucky with so many mechanical failures, and it wasn’t typical for me to be down so often. I remember feeling quite low on many days, which is why I got the tattoo “shine on.” It was a reminder to myself to keep pushing and to stay positive no matter what. The idea was to keep moving forward and believe that there would always be light at the end of the tunnel. That year was particularly tough with many setbacks, which made me feel like I needed a fresh start. I also had uneasy times at McLaren, and I learned that sport is unpredictable. You’re never going to be perfect all the time, and things will happen. If you love it enough, you keep persevering, and eventually, things can turn around again.
The beauty of sports is that it’s never over until it’s over
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Absolutely, everyone has their ups and downs, but it’s fantastic to see you back on the grid. Speaking of the Baku City Circuit in 2018, there was that incident where you and Max Verstappen collided. Did that affect your friendship in any way?
Look, on track, we were very competitive, so in a way, it wasn’t a big surprise that we came together. However, I don’t think it actually changed us as teammates or as people. What we both realised afterwards is that we’re not bigger than the team; we can’t always put ourselves first. We both contributed to a situation that cost not only us but also the team points and money. So, while I wouldn’t say it brought us closer, it definitely gave us a different perspective. At that moment, we were probably upset with each other, but once we saw the team’s reaction, we understood that our frustration was misplaced. We ended up feeling a bit of understanding about our situation and our place within the team.
Last but not least, what songs do you listen to before heading out on the grid? I know Carlos listens to “Smooth Operator,” and Lando has his “Friday” anthem. What about you?
I have quite a few songs, and they change over time. Sometimes I go back to old favourites. For instance, I remember exactly what I listened to before Monaco in the year I won. My theme song that week was “Shoota” by Playboi Carti. The intro keeps repeating, “Now it’s my time,” and that really resonated with me as I felt it was my time to win Monaco. But overall, I don’t have a specific go-to song. It could be hip-hop, punk rock, electronic – whatever I’m in the mood for at the moment.
Sometimes you turn right when you should have turned left, and things change
•As a child, I collected wine corks, taking them from the restaurant whenever my parents ordered wine. As I grew older, I switched to collecting Valentino Rossi’s motorcycles.
•One of my most vivid childhood memories is watching the film ”Racing Is in My Blood” about my idol, Ayrton Senna, which my father showed me. When I travel, I really miss Australian breakfasts and coffee.
•I believe that when you’re on a plane, you become more emotional: I either cry or laugh out loud when I watch a comedy.
•I’m very careful with money and never buy unnecessary things.
