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Daniel Ricciardo Embraces ‘Slow Lane’ Life After F1 Exit

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 1:14 PM ET

Daniel Ricciardo’s trademark grin is still as bright as ever. Only now, it’s beaming from a karting track rather than the cockpit of a Formula 1 car. At 36, the Australian star is settling into what he cheekily calls “the slow lane,” embracing a more laid-back chapter after an unceremonious exit from F1 last year.

Ricciardo’s once-promising return with AlphaTauri (now VCARB) in 2023 seemed a chance to rebuild his career. But after a wrist-breaking crash at Zandvoort, followed by a string of poor performances in 2024, he was replaced after Singapore by Liam Lawson.

With no seat lined up, Ricciardo quietly stepped back from the spotlight. Aside from the occasional Instagram post and sponsor cameo, he kept a low profile, leaving fans wondering about how he was truly handling life off the grid.

Now we have our answer. At a recent Daniel Ricciardo Series karting event at Buckmore Park, Ricciardo opened up revealing he’s more than content with how things have turned out.

“I’m just enjoying some life in the slow lane,” he laughed, describing the joy of reconnecting the grassroots side of racing. "I mean, it sounds weird saying like retirement when I'm 35 years old, but retirement from at least the world I was living in. So it's cool, you know, to be at the kart track. It's my first time at a racetrack in since, I guess, Singapore, so since quite a few months now," he further added.

It’s a far cry from the relentless pressure of chasing podiums and contracts in F1, but Ricciardo seems genuinely at peace and still very much in love with motorsport.

Daniel Ricciardo's first track interview since leaving F1 https://t.co/nN37IYNJe0 via @YouTube

“I’m just enjoying some life in the slow lane."
— Samriddhi Jaiswal (@smrddhjswl) July 2, 2025

For fans who remember his electric overtakes and infectious personality, it’s a bittersweet turn.

But seeing Ricciardo light up the kart track stress-free and surrounded by young racers inspired by him is a reminder that there’s life beyond F1’s brutal calendar. Even if it’s a few mph slower.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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