Having failed to secure a place on the 2023 F1 grid, Daniel Ricciardo will be making a cross-country tour of the US by motorcycle.

With McLaren opting to drop the Australian in favour of countryman Oscar Piastri, Ricciardo has settled for a reserve role at Red Bull which will mainly include simulator and promotional duties.

In a bid to prepare re-set himself for a targeted return to the grid in 2024, Ricciardo has admitted that he will be spending as much time away from the F1 circus as possible and one of the ways in which he will be occupying his time is a road trip across his beloved US.

"I'm really trying to find a balance of still staying in the sport, to some degree, but giving myself time to, again, just have time for me," he tells Speedcafe.com.

"That's even as simple as even just getting more time to myself to train, to spend in the gym, to get better, whatever," he adds. "That's what people also don't understand.

"I'm sorry, I'm not attacking them," he explains, "but our schedules are so busy that I might train one day a week."

"Just taking more time for me to do things, prioritise some other things but also I'm trying to plan a ride across America," he reveals. "That's something that I know will be yes, exciting, fun, but I'll also just get so much self-reflection time.

"That stuff, for me, is really powerful; just being alone and going through nature. All these things, they're things I'm looking forward to.

"And I think getting enough alone time as well will answer a lot of questions and give me clarity moving forward," he insists, "if 2024 is the best thing for me to be back on the grid or not.

"Then it's up to teams as well to feel like I'm worthy, but think I'll just answer a lot of questions for myself next year."

What's the betting that there's a Netflix crew in tow for that road trip.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Max Noble, 11/12/2022 1:04

"@ChickenFarmerF1 - Fully agree. Some years back (around 1994) the rock group REM proclaimed how much they loved Perth here in WA, because they could walk the streets, go shopping, grab a coffee, and go to bars… with one one approaching them! They loved Perth so much (not sure if they still visit…) that one of them had his Wedding here at Cottesloe Civic Centre on tiered lawns sweeping down to the Indian Ocean. Cheerfully back to normal life for them for a few Sunny days.

…next… Neil Peart, who in musical circles is somewhat well known (God rest him as he pasted away January 2020) used to take extensive road trips on both Motorbike, and cycle. He has written several books about those trips, and self reflection. He spent a year wandering the US with nothing but his BMW, leathers, and a sleeping roll after the double horror of the loss of his wife to cancer, then the loss of their only child a year later in a car crash. Five years of healing, and then a remarkable return with the album and tour, Vapor Trails in 2002. Several more studio albums, and stunning live shows (if that’s what you like, and you like what you know…) continued until 2015.

…now should Daniel use a road trip to create such space, calm in his soul, and rediscover the raw energy of his talent… then it is a road trip he urgently needs to take. If, as noted in the article, there is even the hint of a NetFlix film crew following him; well he is not returning to F1 as a full time race driver… ever.

Indeed if he is a Rush fan Daniel could look to retrace some of the motorbike ride completed by Neil, with parts of it being shown in his “Anatomy of a Drum Solo” DVD. To see if he also rediscovers his passion, and meaning in this life. (The track “Ghost Rider” on Vapor Trails most directly expresses Neil’s feelings about the road trip).
"

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2. Posted by ChickenFarmerF1, 09/12/2022 16:49

"@Wokingchap - in the USA, as much as F1's popularity has increased, I'd bet that he could get through 95% of that trip totally unnoticed by the public. And the few that did recognize him might get a selfie with the guy if they're polite but would otherwise leave him to his devices. Unless he's dumb enough to have an entourage, especially with a Hollyweird celebrity in the mix."

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3. Posted by Wokingchap, 09/12/2022 12:04

"This road trip is a great idea and a once in a lifetime adventure if he manages to be alone and not get hounded by unwanted attention. It could be very difficult to stay off the radar. "

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Ricciardo planning US road trip

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