Daniel Ricciardo reflects on 'far from normal' F1 schedule after retirement

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed that stepping away from Formula 1 gave him a new perspective on the sport's grueling pace. Speaking after his 13-year career ended with RB, he admitted the weekend schedule he once considered routine was actually "far from normal."

Why it matters:

Ricciardo's comments offer a rare inside look at the hidden toll of an F1 driver's lifestyle. They underscore just how intense the sport is—even for someone who spent over a decade at the top—and highlight the mental shift that comes with retirement.

The details:

• Ricciardo raced for Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, and RB before being dropped after Singapore last year.
• He told Speed Street: "I was in the F1 bubble for so long... that became normal. But now that I'm outside of it, I'm like 'Oh, that was far from normal.' The schedule was down to the minute."
• The Australian is now promoting his wine brand and will attend the Indianapolis 500 next weekend alongside driver Conor Daly.

What's next:

Ricciardo is curious how the intensity of an F1 weekend compares to that of the Indy 500. He wants to see how drivers there balance personal time with "on" time, adding that his past experience makes him eager to observe the contrast.