Daniel Ricciardo Gets Emotional Over Missing Out On F1 Action in 2023: “The Sound, The Smell…”

The 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix bid adieu to multiple F1 drivers from the grid, and Daniel Ricciardo was one of them. As the Australian’s bitter-sweet two-year journey at McLaren came to an end, it left Ricciardo with no choice but to make space at the Papaya team for his younger compatriot Oscar Piastri. Soon after this, Ricciardo returned to Red Bull and was bestowed the role of the reserve and test driver behind Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. As the veteran Aussie gets ready to start his journey with the Red Bull duo, he recently shared how he is going to miss out on the F1 action.

Talking about this, Ricciardo shared to Motorsport.com, “I’ll be watching the first race from likely television, so I think that’ll start to maybe warm up a few feelings. Then I’ll be in Melbourne, that’ll be the first race I attend. And I think just being around the whole atmosphere and the noise, the sound, the smell … all of it; that’ll probably do what it does.”

“And whether I’m so hooked and excited and wanting to get back or whatever I’m just kind of happy being a fan for a bit longer, we’ll see. But I think Melbourne will probably tell me quite a lot,” further stated the man from Land Down Under.

READ MORE: Daniel Ricciardo Once Joined Max Verstappen to Form a Band in an Ode to Red Bull Boss’ Spice Girl Wife Geri Halliwell

Ricciardo made his Red Bull return four years after he left the team for Renault [now Alpine] in 2019. After two years at the French team, he switched to McLaren and stayed there until the end of 2022. On his return to Red Bull, the Australian was showered with a valuable piece of advice as he gears up to spend the season without the seat.

Daniel Ricciardo shared his feelings post McLaren exit

Daniel Ricciardo has recently shared his thoughts and feelings on his McLaren exit. The Woking-based team cut ties with the Australian a year before his contract was supposed to end. Putting this into light, the eight-time GP winner shared how he felt at that point.

Talking about the time he got to know about the development, Ricciardo shared with Planet F1, “At first it was probably a bit more a panic in a way. It’s like ‘oh my gosh, like what do I do? What do I do now? Like, what’s next? What does this mean?’ So it’s kind of all these panic thoughts.”

“It’s something that, I guess like anything, if you’re not fully prepared for it, then it’s only if it catches you a little bit off guard and are a bit surprised. I wouldn’t say I went into a frenzy but [maybe] into a bit of a frenzy,” concluded Daniel Ricciardo.

WATCH THIS STORY: Struggling ‘Honey Badger’ Daniel Ricciardo Once Dominated the Streets of Azerbaijan in Glorious 2017

Daniel Ricciardo was present with Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, and Christian Horner in New York, United States for Red Bull’s 2023 challenger launch. An all-time favorite in the North American country, Ricciardo was a big highlight for all the F1 fans during the event.