Ricciardo Reveals He Wants to Try NASCAR, MotoGP, and Supercars
In an interview with the Australian Tourism Board, Daniel Ricciardo expressed his admiration for NASCAR, MotoGP, and Supercars machines.
Amid speculation that his days in the paddock could be numbered, Daniel Ricciardo made a surprising confession about life after Formula 1. The 35-year-old Australian, unbothered by rumors that he might lose his Red Bull seat to rookie Liam Lawson after the Singapore Grand Prix, said there is another racing series he “wants to try and experience.” In an interview with Tourism Western Australia this week, he said:
“I grew up as a fan of NASCAR.”
“I would love to drive a NASCAR, for example, I would love to get around Daytona. But would I want to race? Both yes and no.”
Ricciardo added, “I didn’t grow up with it, and I would probably be frustrated. So do I need to do it? I don’t know, but I would like to experience it.”
The eight-time Grand Prix winner previously drove Dale Earnhardt’s 1984 Monte Carlo Chevrolet at the 2021 United States Grand Prix. Ricciardo grew up idolizing the late NASCAR legend, and since then, he has received praise from Earnhardt’s son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., who appreciated the F1 driver’s respect for the family’s legacy.
Ricciardo’s love for motorcycles has also been widely shared on social media. In his interview with Tourism WA, he expressed his desire to try MotoGP as well, saying, “I love bikes… but I’m very, very slow and would probably be terrible.”
The former Red Bull driver said he wanted to take a few laps on the famous track in Bathurst, his homeland. “Obviously, the V8s race there, but you know, there are races like the 12-hour one as well, maybe I could participate in that. If a V8 team says, ‘Hey, would you like to take a few laps at Bathurst? No pressure, just for the experience,’ then I would definitely accept it.”
Since joining F1 in 2011, Ricciardo has been living in Los Angeles and Monaco, but he revealed that he would likely return to his roots when he retires. Speaking about the peaceful region in Western Australia, he said, “I can really see myself retiring in Margaret River one day.”
“I love the lifestyle. It’s like a breath of fresh air; everything slows down.”
“I think everyone there is very connected to the land. Everyone feels very free and happy. That lifestyle is my vision of retirement.”
Ricciardo’s comments came amid speculation that Red Bull and RB senior management would make a decision about their 2025 driver lineups after this weekend’s race in Singapore, which could mean the end of Ricciardo’s 13-year F1 career.
