After hanging up his helmet at the 2024 Singapore grand prix, Australian ace Daniel Ricciardo has begun to map out what a graceful exit from top-level motorsport could look like. In a candid chat on the F1 Beyond the Grid programme, the eight-time grand prix winner revealed that the idea of stepping back into a car one more time still holds a certain allure, provided the setting is right.
Ricciardo admitted that just a year earlier he would have declared any future racing completely off the table. “A year ago, I would have said I will never put a helmet on again. I’m done. That’s it.” Yet the restless energy that carried him through his F1 career appears to have sparked a new curiosity: a single, high-profile endurance event that could give him the closure he seeks. “So to do something that, when I take the helmet off, I’m smiling and happy, and maybe that’s the last bit of closure I need.“
Why Le Mans appeals to a former F1 champion
The Le Mans 24 Hours represents a stark contrast to the sprint-focused world of Formula 1. Instead of battling a rival across a few hundred kilometres, drivers must cooperate, share data, and sustain performance over an entire day. For Ricciardo, that collaborative atmosphere is precisely what draws him back. “To share a car with other drivers and to actually have real team-mates to share data and help out, I would just enjoy it.” The prospect of swapping the solitary, high-pressure cockpit of a single-seater for a shared endurance seat appears to align with his desire for a more relaxed yet still competitive environment.
Choosing a co-driver: Max Verstappen in the mix
When the conversation turned to who he would like to sit beside in the Bonneville-esque paddock, Ricciardo didn’t hesitate to name his former Red Bull teammate. “I don’t want to put pressure on him, but obviously Max is a name that would be high on the list.” Their history stretches back to the 2018 season, when the two discussed the possibility of joining forces beyond their regular championships. Ricciardo hinted that a Le Mans entry could serve as a playful nod to that past dialogue: “We talked about Red Bull obviously in 2018 and ‘what if’, and I was trying to get back at the team at the end of my career.” In other words, a joint venture at Le Mans could satisfy fan curiosity while giving both drivers a fresh challenge away from the familiar Red Bull Racing hierarchy.
Balancing ambition and practicality
Despite the excitement, Ricciardo made it clear that a full-season commitment in any series is not on his agenda. The appeal lies solely in a one-off, high-visibility outing that would let him finish on his own terms. “I would just enjoy it. It would be the form of driving and companionship that I would really enjoy.” This measured approach underscores his intent to avoid the grueling schedule of a championship while still tasting the adrenaline of race-day. It also speaks to a broader trend among veteran drivers who opt for selective appearances rather than prolonged comebacks.
Should the plan materialise, the narrative would be rich with symbolic gestures: a former Red Bull star returning to the sport’s most historic endurance race, sharing a garage with a current champion, and delivering a performance that could be measured not only in lap times but in the satisfaction of a career closing on a high note. For now, fans of both Ricciardo and Verstappen can only speculate, but the prospect of seeing those two personalities together under the neon lights of Le Mans has already ignited a wave of anticipation across the motorsport community.
