Daniel Ricciardo reveals burnout and is ‘glad’ that he was not offered an F1 position for 2023

As Daniel Ricciardo prepares to return to where he began his F1 career at Red Bull, the Australian star revealed he was suffering from burnout and was “glad” no one offered him a starting grid spot for 2023.

Tight results and problems with his car marked his two-year spell at McLaren, ultimately leading to his being replaced by fellow Australian Oscar Piastri for 2023 despite having a year left on his contract.

The 33-year-old’s career came to a crossroads after faltering performances with McLaren and Renault before that, before his original team Red Bull came to the rescue.

Ricciardo admitted suffering burnout during a difficult two years with McLaren and needed time to step away from the sport to find his mojo.

Ricciardo will take up a reserve driver role with the manufacturer, sharing the role with young Kiwi Liam Lawson, as well as doing promotional work for Red Bull.

It came after the Australian turned down potential opportunities to race lower-ranked teams such as Haas, Williams and Alfa Romeo, while also being linked to starting positions with Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari.

Initially, Ricciardo was going to take a year off the sport and has now revealed that he was suffering from burnout and needed time away from the pressures of a top-two finish at a leading manufacturer.

“There were a couple of times where [Ferrari] was linked. Guenther (Steiner, Haas team principal) came up,” Ricciardo told the Beyond the net podcast.

“The more… days went by and, especially as I did the triple header to go back into the second half of the season, which is to say, three races in a row, it became more and more clear that it wasn’t about which phone call I was getting; it was about me acknowledging that ultimately I don’t want to race next year.

“So, in a way, I’m glad that, let’s say, a top team hasn’t reached out, because it’s one of those where you probably feel, ‘Oh, I have to sign him,’ but I think deep down, I just kind of craved away.

Ricciardo admitted that his fatigue was not going to go away with hard work and that he needed time and space to find his mojo again.

“You could call it burnout, but I’m not afraid to admit it or say it,” she said.

And it’s one of those where everyone will have an opinion and this and that, but ultimately, I know what I feel, I know what I want. It was something of that.

“And I feel very… I don’t want to say I’m the only driver who feels this way, but I would say I’m not the normal athlete where I just say ‘practice makes perfect’.”

Ricciardo celebrates winning the 2018 Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix with Red Bull. He has returned to Red Bull in 2023 as a reserve driver

“The more I do sometimes, the more I lose myself in that, where I feel like the power of a break for me, a time off, I could come back better. I know for me that could be really good.

However, fans could still see Ricciardo’s career in 2023, should something happen to Max Verstappen or Sergio Pérez.

Ricciardo is hopeful of returning to a leading position in 2024, although places may be tight with Verstappen, Perez, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. [Ferrari] and George Russell and Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes] with the intention of continuing to run.