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Daniel Ricciardo has teased that he could return to racing in the future, almost two years on since retiring from Formula 1. The Aussie, 36, stepped away from the sport in 2024 after 13-and-a-half seasons on the grid.

During his time in F1, Ricciardo competed in 257 Grand Prix races, winning eight and achieving 32 podium finishes. His highest season finish was third, a position he achieved twice, both with Red Bull, in 2014 and 2016.

He raced for HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, Aston Martin, AlphaTauri, McLaren and Racing Bulls across his career, and is renowned as one of the most popular and likeable drivers to have ever competed on the F1 circuit.

Reflecting on the decision to stop racing, Ricciardo revealed the emotions he felt at the end of his career, and his changing mindset. "At the end of my career, I was like, 'Why do I love it?' And I just wanted to remove myself for a bit," Ricciardo said on Daly's Speed Street podcast. "But I think going to other races kind of rebuilt a healthy relationship with it."

Although Ricciardo decided to call time on his F1 career at the end of the 2024 season, there have been calls for him to make a sensational return to motorsport, with Cadillac reported to have approached him at the start of this campaign.

While Ricciardo is still retired, he has teased that a return could on the cards, albeit not in the short term. Asked about future plans to return to the grid on one series or another, he added: "Never say never. I'm really enjoying not competing where I currently sit, and just enjoying the small things in life, and not having to kind of be on a stage and all that.

"Do I know what I'll feel in three years, five years? No. If I was to do something maybe one day, it would definitely be more from a fun aspect than, like, 'I'm chasing some championship' aspect.

"I don't need to hold a trophy in something. I don't need this for myself. Sometimes that can take the enjoyment out of racing. It's a balance, because you want to have goals, and that's obviously what gives you that purpose in the morning. To wake up and push yourself and get in the gym and all that. But sometimes that can also rob some of the joy from it.

"I just want to make sure if I was to ever do something again, it's just joyful, and I don't have to prove anything or try to be the best. I just want to have some fun with it."