In 2024, Formula 1 bid farewell to one of its most vibrant characters, the ever-smiling Daniel Ricciardo. After a successful breakthrough at Red Bull, the Australian experienced several fluctuating years at Renault, McLaren, and Racing Bulls respectively. Former driver David Coulthard reflects on Ricciardo’s career, as the eight-time Grand Prix winner now enjoys life in the ‘slow lane‘. According to Coulthard, Ricciardo ultimately lacked motivation.
Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career did not stall due to a lack of talent, but rather indifference, Coulthard asserts. The Australian achieved great successes early in his career, but failed to further develop thereafter. “You see some drivers continue to improve,” Coulthard said. “Others are affected by their success, which hinders their development. Daniel Ricciardo is an example of this.”
“He was one of the clever young talents who got to debut in Formula 1,” Coulthard recalled. “He grew into one of the best overtakers of his time – it was always exciting to watch him. But when he left Red Bull, things were only ‘okay’ at Renault. At McLaren, he was beaten by Lando Norris two years in a row, and at Racing Bulls, it never really worked. Now, he is happily enjoying his retirement – presumably as a wealthy man.”
Enjoying the Ride
Coulthard was specifically asked why Daniel Ricciardo‘s career seemed to decline after his time at Red Bull. “In life, you carry baggage,” he responded philosophically. “If you’re poor, it’s a shopping bag, and if you’re rich, it’s a Louis Vuitton. But you have to carry it all. Baggage can be wealth and success, or poverty and setbacks – in both cases, you have to learn to deal with it. For some, it’s hard to let go of that success. Martin Brundle once said, ‘You don’t lose the speed, but the need to go fast.’ I compare it to a boxer – you lose the urge to take punches.”
Ricciardo himself says he’s enjoying a well-deserved retirement. Although he’s occasionally linked to a return to Formula 1, a comeback seems unlikely for now. “I’m just enjoying life in the slow lane,” he said in July to Formula1.com. “It might sound strange to say that I’m already retired, but that’s kind of what it is – retirement from the world I lived in.” Regarding motivation, Ricciardo emphasized that he’s always had a laid-back approach. “For me, it was always: ‘Make sure you have as much fun as possible,'” he explained. “I didn’t do it to impress or become famous – you just had to have fun.”
