Daniel Ricciardo has admitted that he suspects age has caught up with him in Formula 1 amid the announcement that he will not see out the 2024 campaign with RB.
RB has announced the anticipated news that Ricciardo will not return to complete the remaining six races this season as Liam Lawson will partner with Yuki Tsunoda.
Ricciardo’s F1 prospects provided a sizeable talking point in the paddock in Singapore last weekend as speculation began to emerge that it could be his final showing.
The Australian professed post-race that was a realistic prospect and it has since been revealed that his second stint with the Faenza-based squad has been cut short.
Ricciardo departs the sport having been unsuccessful in his attempts to prove that he merited a return to the seat at the senior Red Bull team that he vacated in 2018.
The eight-time race winner was unable to beat team-mate Tsunoda on a consistent enough basis, lagging 10 points behind and being out-qualified 12 times this term.
Ricciardo, who twice wound up third in the championship with Red Bull, has conceded that he struggled to extract his best level frequently across his second F1 spell.
“I’m not going to restart my career,” he told media including Motorsport Week post-race in Singapore. “I’m also 35, I still showed the pace I had over the years.
“But it’s also been evident that it’s been harder for me to show it every weekend and maybe that is a little bit of an age thing.
“It definitely came easier for me when I was 25 as opposed to 35.
“Also maybe the competition is also increasing. I think that’s a common thing with all sports, the simulators are getting better, the kids are getting younger.
“So naturally they have access to all onboards now, they can watch and study everyone, maybe the level’s increased and it’s probably a tall task to fight at that level week in week out.
“I can’t be disappointed with that, I’m happy that once upon a time I could do it, and that was a lot of fun.
“I want to make sure I leave the sport with good memories of it and it doesn’t get to that place where it’s just a grind and I’m out of Q1 every weekend, that’s obviously not fun.”
Ricciardo suggests F1 career is over
Ricciardo indicated that his F1 career has ended with his mid-season dismissal, citing that he doesn’t want to spend his time racing around without the chance to win.
“Obviously this year the purpose was to try and do good enough to get back into Red Bull and fight for wins again, see if I’ve still got it,” he explained.
“I felt like I came up short with that, so I think it’s then ok what else am I fighting for here, what else is going to give me fulfilment?
“I’ve been a young driver as well and at some point I don’t just want to take up space also, obviously you have to be selfish.
“But for me if I’m not able to fight at the front with Red Bull I have to ask myself what am I staying on the grid for, that’s something I’ve also come to peace with.”
