2 months ago
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One-time F1 star Daniel Ricciardo is loving retirement - and the popular Aussie is sporting a wild new look that's a long way from his appearance when he was still racing.
Ricciardo, 36, was spotted at Wimbledon on day two of action with a bushy beard - and recently confirmed he has no plans to return to the grid.
'I'm just enjoying life in the slow lane,' Ricciardo said in London.
'I mean it sounds weird saying I'm retired when I'm 35 years old, but retirement from at least the world I was living in.....so it's cool.'
Ricciardo celebrated his 36th birthday on Tuesday with a day out at The All England Club alongside his parents Grace and Joe.
The Aussie - who won eight races in his career - was sacked by Red Bull affiliate RB Racing last September, with Kiwi young gun Liam Lawson his replacement.
One-time F1 star Daniel Ricciardo is loving retirement - and the popular Aussie sported a wild new look at Wimbledon (pictured)
Ricciardo celebrated his 36th birthday on Tuesday with a day out at The All England Club alongside his parents Grace and Joe (the trio are pictured)
Ricciardo confirmed he is 'enjoying life in the slow lane' and has no plans to make a shock return to the grid
The Perth born driver's charismatic personality and ubiquitous smile made him a fan favourite following his 2011 debut (pictured, in Belgium in 2023)
'I have to acknowledge it's obviously been a little bit of a race-by-race situation,' Ricciardo said at the time.
'Let's say I'm at peace with it. At some point, it will come for all of us.'
Strong family support was instrumental in Ricciardo's rise through the ranks, from local karting competitions to international circuits.
Ricciardo's talent shone brightly as he progressed through junior categories, eventually winning the British Formula 3 championship in 2009.
He made his Formula 1 debut in 2011 with HRT, gradually progressing to more competitive teams such as Toro Rosso and Red Bull, where he achieved significant success.
His career highlights include winning seven races with Red Bull, finishing third overall in the championship in 2014 and 2016.
Ricciardo's aggressive driving style and late-braking manoeuvres earned him a reputation for spectacular overtakes, particularly during his memorable victories in Canada, Hungary and Belgium.
Joining McLaren in 2021, he secured a remarkable win at the Italian Grand Prix, which was the auto racing team's first victory since 2012.
His charismatic personality and ubiquitous smile also made him a fan favourite globally.
Meanwhile, the F1 season continues at Silverstone this weekend where Aussie Oscar Piastri will look to bounce back after his McLaren teammate Lando Norris trimmed his lead to 15 points after winning the Austrian Grand Prix.
