Dan Ricciardo plans to ride across America on a minibike
The Australian Formula 1 star will take some time off in 2023 to pursue other interestsFollowing his dramatic exit from the McLaren F1 team, Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo will enjoy some time off in 2023, with plans to ride a minibike across the USA.
Speaking on
, Ricciardo says that he wants to ride from New York City to Los Angeles on a modified 110cc motorcycle.“We want to make it an exciting journey, and not go the line of least resistance,” he explained. “We might have to bore them out and make a bit more power.”
While the Aussie admits that the route has “not yet been decided”, he did indicate that he has always wanted to do a road-trip around America.
“A theme next year is that I want to take a year off to slow down,” he continued. “And riding a 110 across America would symbolise slowing down and taking everything in.”
Ricciardo was sensationally dropped from McLaren after two seasons due to poor results, and was unable to secure a full-time drive for 2023.
While he has not ruled out a return to the grid in the future, the Perth-born driver has signed on as Red Bull Racing’s third driver behind Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. The new role has a reduced workload, meaning he’ll have more time to relax and follow other pursuits.
Speaking on the podcast about having a year off, Ricciardo joked that he is going “party like there is no tomorrow” and that he will become a “full-time disco-goer”.
Switching back to more serious territory, the host then asked Ricciardo if having a year off means he is in “bucket-list territory”.
“I don’t want to be one of these people that are like, when I get the time, I’ll do it,” responded Ricciardo. “Because, who knows? Maybe I’m back into this whole cycle in 2024.
“I’m aware that there are definitely some things that I don’t want to make excuses for not doing next year. There are some things I just want to say yes to and tick some boxes.”
Elaborating further on those things, Ricciardo says he wants to do some “fun little trips, some national parks, and a lot of stuff to do with nature” with the goal of getting some “self-reflection” out of his year off. He also wants to spend time on his family farm in Western Australia.
The Australian’s role with Red Bull Racing will primarily require him to partake in simulator sessions and marketing duties, meaning he won’t have to face the weekly grind of the long F1 season.
His vacant seat at McLaren was snapped up by a fellow Aussie, with Melbourne-born Oscar Piastri joining Lando Norris on the team in 2023.
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
