sport news Daniel Ricciardo reveals toll of his messy F1 split from McLaren was so heavy ... trends now
Australian Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has opened up about the toll his stint at McLaren took on his mental and physical health, revealing that he 'wasn't eating much' and felt borderline depressed.
Ricciardo experienced a challenging two-year tenure with McLaren, which ultimately led to his replacement by fellow Australian Oscar Piastri and an early contract termination.
This year, Ricciardo has rekindled his passion for racing as Red Bull's reserve driver, expressing hopes of returning to the grid in 2024.
He currently supports Red Bull's leading drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, who hold the top two positions in the F1 drivers' standings.
Ricciardo's time at McLaren was marked by struggles with an underperforming car, resulting in a decline in his rankings — finishing eighth in 2021 and 11th in 2022.
Ricciardo has admitted he suffered borderline depression in his time at McLaren that ultimately ended last year
Ricciardo's split from McLaren paved the way for fellow Aussie Oscar Piastri to earn his first full-time position in F1
While Ricciardo is not driving in F1 this year he is still heavily involved in his role as reserve driver and ambassador with Red Bull
His victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix served as a rare highlight amidst ongoing engine issues and inconsistency.
The 33-year-old driver admitted to feeling mentally exhausted and in need of a break by the end of last season, further emphasising the impact of his struggles at McLaren on his overall well-being.
'I don't want to like go too far and be like, "Yeah, I was depressed" or whatever but I certainly wasn't always eating as much,' Ricciardo told read more from dailymail.....
