AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo has definitively ruled out the possibility of continuing his racing career in the sport into his 40s.
Currently 34 years old, Ricciardo is determined to make a lasting impact during his second stint in Formula 1.
He recently transitioned from his role as a reserve driver at Red Bull to a race seat at AlphaTauri, succeeding Nyck de Vries who was dropped from the team.
With aspirations of returning to the forefront of the racing grid, Ricciardo has been candid about his desire to rejoin his former team, Red Bull, if the opportunity presents itself.
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However, the window for such a return appears to be closing as he envisions concluding his Formula 1 journey within the next five years.
Drawing inspiration from fellow racer Fernando Alonso, who is still highly competitive at the age of 42, Ricciardo acknowledges the possibility of excelling despite age.
However, he expresses his preference for exiting the sport on a high note.
In an interview with The Independent, Ricciardo shared his perspective, stating, “Ideally, I’d have had enough success in the next five years.
“I think there’s something cool about going out on top.”
Ricciardo also reflects on the prospect of life beyond the racetrack, highlighting the need for balance between his professional and personal pursuits.
He recognises the common fear athletes experience when contemplating retirement, but he is confident in his ability to find fulfilment outside of Formula 1.
He explained, “For lots of athletes, the thought of retirement is scary – what do you do now?
“You’ve lived this crazy life for so long that it can be daunting.
“But for me, let’s say the next three-to-five years of awesome success and then… peace!”
Comparisons can be drawn to Lewis Hamilton, who previously shared a similar sentiment about not racing in Formula 1 beyond his 40s.
However, Hamilton’s perspective has evolved, and he is now on the verge of turning 39.
Despite a challenging season with a less competitive Mercedes car and a year without a victory, Hamilton’s renewed enthusiasm and sense of contentment have contributed to his potential multi-year contract extension with Mercedes.
He expressed, “I’m just in a happy place. I’m a lot more grounded…
“And I feel like I can take the team to more championships.”
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Despite not yet scoring a point for AlphaTauri, Ricciardo is showing his potential, having traded results with his teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
In his first outing back at the team, Ricciardo outperformed Tsunoda, while in his second race this season, the Australian fell behind the Japanese racer.
AlphaTauri will hope that having two competitive drivers can help the team boost themselves back up the rankings, avoiding an embarrassing last place finish in the standings.