McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo insisted that he was cautious about his world title hopes, saying he didn’t want to make his life all about it.
Ricciardo was one of the most talented drivers on the grid when he made his debut. Although these many years later he is still one of the best in the business, there is no denying that time is now turning against him.
With his time in the sport ticking towards the end, time is running out for him to win his maiden world championship. The eight-time race winner has finished third in the Drivers’ Championship standings twice, but is yet to win the big one.
However, Ricciardo insisted that he was cautious about his world title hopes, saying he didn’t want to bet everything on it.
“If you put all your eggs into one basket, and it doesn’t work out, the thought of what might happen – in a way it could be scary,” Ricciardo said as quoted by The Race.
“If I put all my life’s work into becoming a World Champion and I don’t become a World Champion, am I going to be depressed the rest of my life? I don’t know, it’s a bit of a risky thing to do.
“And I think, in this sport, when there’s so many other variables in it, nothing’s guaranteed. And it’s just not that black and white.”
Not worth everything
“It’s probably just for some self-preservation as well,” the Australian added.
“It doesn’t change me or my mindset as a competitor or anything. But I guess some days, especially like the bad days, you sometimes do need to laugh it off – it’s just a sport.
“If I don’t become a champion, life will still go on. I’m fortunate enough to have been able to live my dream for quite a few years now. At the end of the day, it’s a trophy, and it’s your name in the history books forever – but you’re still going to go to bed that night, you’re still going to wake up the next day.
“It could just be quite scary to invest everything in it, because there’s a lot more to life. That’s probably where I’m at with it,” he concluded.
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