Since the end of the 2022 season, Daniel Ricciardo is without an F1 seat. The Aussie’s last stint with McLaren ended with the team terminating his contract, replacing him with rookie Oscar Piastri.
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Ricciardo has since joined former team Red Bull, where he serves the role of a reserve driver. The 8-time GP winner plans to make a comeback on the F1 grid in 2024. However, the lack of available seats makes his return to the sport doubtful.
Nevertheless, the Australian driver could try his hand at a variety of different sports. Maybe, Ricciardo could consider NASCAR, which the driver himself inferred in his post-F1 plans.
Daniel Ricciardo has plans to race in NASCAR
In a 2015 interview for Red Bull, Daniel Ricciardo was asked what he plan to do after retiring from F1. The Aussie replied with a smile that he has a long list of plans, but he certainly wishes to try out America’s NASCAR series.
Ricciardo replied, “I am interested in many forms of motorsports, to be honest. But if I had to choose one, it’ll probably be NASCAR.” The Aussie has been following the series since he was a kid. He also alternates between his residences in the US and Monaco and loves spending time in the States.
Ricciardo shared another incentive regarding driving in the series. He added, “You can race till you are pretty old, so that’s good.” Currently, it looks like the right time for F1’s ‘Honey Badger’ to consider a move to the sport.
Ricciardo, who is 33 years old, is on the lookout for an F1 seat for the 2024 season. However, chances of breaking into F1 are pretty slim, and there is a lack of available seats per season. His age will also be disadvantageous to him, as teams would want a younger driver to take the seat.
Ricciardo drove racing hero Dale Earnhardt’s car in COTA
Growing up, Daniel Ricciardo was a massive fan of 7-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt. Aussie chose to sport the number ‘3’ as a tribute to Earnhardt, who raced with the same car number.
When he joined McLaren, team CEO Zak Brown gifted the Aussie a model of the legendary NASCAR racer’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Brown claimed he would let Ricciardo drive the real car if he scores a podium with McLaren.
He won the bet by delivering McLaren their first race win in 9 years at the 2021 Italian GP. Brown honoured his bet, and ahead of the 2021 US GP in COTA, he let Ricciardo drive Earnhardt’s 1984 race-winning Monte Carlo stock car.
However, in recent years, the driver has changed his stance on racing in NASCAR. When asked by Motorsport.com if he will turn to the US after being axed by McLaren, the driver replied, “F**k that. Ovals scare me.”
The Aussie still focuses on a return to F1 rather than moving to the USA for racing. He continued, “I don’t want to deviate, I would say primarily for that reason. But also ovals, nah. Ten years ago, I would have said yes. I’m OK to admit that I’m not okay with ovals.”
Brown shared, McLaren even tried to persuade the Aussie to drive for their Indycar team. However, it seems like the driver still has the hunger to drive in F1.
