Ricciardo: I was just craving a bit of distance

Daniel Ricciardo was shown the door at McLaren, one year ahead of his contract expiry, after failing to deliver the goods over two seasons, being comprehensively beaten by teammate Lando Norris, while struggling to get his head around the F1 machinery produced at Woking.

He ended up opting for a reserve role with former team Red Bull in 2023, while hoping a year on the sidelines would help him rebuild his confidence and energy and try to get a full-time F1 drive in 2024.

Speaking to Beyond The Grid podcast, the Honey Badger was asked if he had opportunities to be a full time driver in 2023, he revealed he did but not with a top team, which made his decision to take a break easier.

"There was a couple of times where [Ferrari] was linked. But, I think coming back to a seat next year as Guenther [Steiner, Haas Team Principal] said, he reached out and stuff," Ricciardo said.

"The more… days that passed and, especially as I did the triple-header to get back into the second half of the season – so three days on the bounce – it became more and more clear that it wasn’t about what phone call I was receiving; it was about me acknowledging that I just ultimately don’t want to be competing next year," he explained.

"So, in a way I am glad that, let’s say, a top team didn’t reach out, because it's one of those ones where you probably feel, ‘Oh, I’ve got to sign it’, but I think deep down I was just craving a bit of distance," the 33-year-old insisted.

Indeed, Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner has declared he was willing to consider Ricciardo as a replacement for Mick Schumacher, but said it was up to the Aussie to call him, as he won't be chasing him.

Ultimately, no calls were made and Ricciardo ended up going back home at Red Bull, while Nico Hulkenberg was signed to replace Schumacher alongside Haas incumbent Kevin Magnussen.

Ricciardo is adamant he took the right decision for himself, regardless of what others may think or say, conceding that he felt drained and needed to recharge his batteries.

"Yeah, you could call it some burnout," he referred to his situation, "but I’m not afraid to admit that or say that, and it’s one of those ones where, you know, everyone will have an opinion and this and that, but it’s ultimately that I know what I feel, I know what I want. It was some of that.

"I don’t want to say that I’m the only driver that feels this way, but I would say that I’m not the normal sportsman where I kind of just use ‘practice makes perfect’," he pointed out.

"The more I do sometimes, the more I’m just like getting kind of lost in it, where I kind of feel like the power of a break for me, some time off, I could come back better. I know for me that could actually be really good," the winner of eight grands prix maintained.