‘I have had thoughts about what I am going to do’
Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he has had thoughts about what his future will bring after retirement from the sport.
The Formula One driver, 33, has been a key figure in the sport for many years where he has spent time at the likes of Red Bull, Renault and now his current employers McLaren.
A driver with a larger than life character, the Australian has struggled in the car this season, leading to conversations about his future with McLaren and whether they will look to find a new partner for Lando Norris next season, despite Ricciardo signing a three-year deal until 2023.
Ricciardo himself has said he is committed to the cause and wants to continue racing for McLaren but should they see different, the experienced driver will face a battle to find a new seat elsewhere, with other competitors looking at younger, fresher drivers for the long-term.
‘I think it’s a good time to start trialing some stuff and figuring out what I enjoy’
At some point in his career though Ricciardo will eventually have to retire from the sport and during an exclusive interview with JOE, he revealed that he had begun to consider what life after F1 would look like for him and said that he is willing to go into new ventures.
“I have had thoughts about what I am going to do one day when I retire,” he told JOE. “It’s all I’ve done my whole life.
“But for sure, I’m definitely open to dipping into some things and I think it’s a good time to start trialling some stuff and figuring out what I enjoy.
“I also call them positive distractions you know, so things outside of F1 which kind of keep me positively ticking over and going to bed at night with the thought of something else other than race cars.”
Ricciardo to appear on the small screen in the future?
One of those ventures could include a career in TV production after Ricciardo revealed he had been working with American TV firm Hulu on a new comedy series which could be broadcast as soon as next year.
He added: “The Hulu thing, it’s cool. It was an opportunity that came up and once I got to understand who was behind it and the people on board, then I was like ‘okay this is the kind of thing is gonna be cool.’
“It’s going to be like a fictional TV series about Formula One and I’ll be lending advice and trying to make it fun and cool because it will be fiction, but to make sure that it’s still in line with what actually happens in the sport.
“I never thought that driving a race car would lead to some of these opportunities. They’re what I call pinch me moments and have the attitude of ‘why not’ it’s a cool opportunity.”
Ricciardo was speaking at the launch of the McLaren Turbo Series on PartyPoker, in association with McLaren Racing. The full McLaren Turbo Series schedule can be seen here.
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