Daniel Ricciardo would feel a lot of “fulfilment” from his Formula 1 career even if he retired without winning the championship.
The Australian recently reached a full decade since his debut with HRT at the 2011 British Grand Prix, winning seven times and finishing third in the Drivers’ Championship twice with Red Bull in that time.
Currently, Ricciardo finds himself in a tough spot, having taken the gamble to join Renault in 2019 only to move on again to McLaren for 2021.
And so far, that decision hasn’t worked out with the ‘Honey Badger’ struggling to get up to speed and being completely outshone by Lando Norris.
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At 32, Ricciardo is also beginning to run out of years to become an F1 champion, even so, he admits he would still continue to race without the chance to win the title.
“I’ve never been asked that question because the truth is I race because that is what I want to do,” he said.
“I want to be World Champion and I’ve never said I race to make up numbers.
“I think I would still do it because you still have the chance to win races and still have some highs for sure.
“But I think if my F1 career ended for me today, obviously I’m not world champion, I’d still look back on this journey and be extremely grateful for it.
“I’ve had some amazing experiences, many highs and I think just life experience as well. Being able to travel the world and do what we do.
“So yes, the big trophy is why we do it but we’ve taken so much more from it on our way to trying to get there and even if we don’t get there, I think we still have a lot of fulfilment.
“I guess the answer is I’d still do it.”
Ricciardo also has some non-F1 goals he’d like to achieve and could do so with McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
“I do have to ask Zak but I need to – even if I don’t do the race – I need to drive a Supercar around Bathurst,” the Aussie told GP Racing.
“Whether it’s a private test or the actual race (Bathurst 1000), I do need to do it. And I think now I have a good opportunity with Zak as a friend and a boss.
“He’s keen to try and get us into the other open-wheelers in the States, the IndyCars. So there’s a lot to do.”
The issue with the Bathurst 1000 is a date clash with F1 in early October, but there is another race at Mount Panorama which Ricciardo could take part in.
“When I signed with him [Brown], over the early phase of last year, we had these conversations and it was thrown in there: ‘We should get you to do the 12 Hours of Bathurst’,” he added.
“If he asked me and it worked logistically, I would say yes.”
