Daniel Ricciardo teases racing return: 'Never say never'

Daniel Ricciardo has left the door ajar on a potential return to motorsport, insisting "never say never" when asked about stepping back into a racing cockpit — but the Australian is in no rush, and any comeback would have to be driven by joy rather than ambition.

An Abrupt End to an Illustrious Career

Since stepping away from the grid, Ricciardo has embraced a quieter existence on his Australian farm, though he has not severed ties with motorsport entirely. He currently holds a Brand Ambassador role with Ford — a manufacturer with growing ambitions in top-level endurance racing. It is worth noting that Ford are actively exploring future racing partnerships, a project that could yet open interesting doors for those within the Ford family.

Rebuilding a Healthy Relationship with Racing

Reflecting candidly on the emotional weight of those final months in Formula 1, Ricciardo described a period of genuine soul-searching. Speaking on Daly's Speed Street podcast, he revealed that stepping away was, at least in part, about rediscovering why he fell in love with racing in the first place.

"At the end of my career, I was like, 'Why do I love it?' And I just wanted to remove myself for a bit," Ricciardo said. "But I think going to other races kind of rebuilt a healthy relationship with it."

It is a sentiment that speaks to the psychological toll a difficult spell in the sport can take — and to Ricciardo's desire to recapture something that may have felt lost in the pressure of trying to prove himself once more at the highest level.

'I Just Want to Have Some Fun With It'

On the prospect of a return to competitive racing, Ricciardo was measured but intriguingly open. He made clear that any future involvement in motorsport would need to come from a very different place than the one that defined his F1 years.

"Never say never. I'm really enjoying not competing where I currently sit, and just enjoying the small things in life, and not having to kind of be on a stage and all that," he said.

"Do I know what I'll feel in three years, five years? No."

Crucially, Ricciardo was unambiguous about the terms on which he would be willing to race again. The championship hunger that once defined him, the relentless pursuit of performance and results, is no longer the driving force.

"If I was to do something maybe one day, it would definitely be more from a fun aspect than, like, 'I'm chasing some championship' aspect," he explained. "I don't need to hold a trophy in something. I don't need this for myself. Sometimes that can take the enjoyment out of racing."

He acknowledged the tension inherent in that philosophy — that goals and purpose are what get a racer out of bed in the morning — but was clear about where he now stands.

"It's a balance, because you want to have goals, and that's obviously what gives you that purpose in the morning. To wake up and push yourself and get in the gym and all that. But sometimes that can also rob some of the joy from it."

"I just want to make sure if I was to ever do something again, it's just joyful, and I don't have to prove anything or try to be the best. I just want to have some fun with it."

A Fan Favourite Who Left Too Soon

Ricciardo remains one of the most beloved figures in Formula 1's recent history, and the prospect of seeing him race again — in any series — would generate considerable excitement. But the man himself is under no illusions: any return must be on his own terms, for the right reasons, and with the right spirit. For now, the Australian seems content to watch the world go racing from the outside — and slowly, it seems, fall back in love with it.