Daniel Ricciardo will have one foot in the F1 paddock next season and the other outside, in a place where he hopes to find the answers to a few important questions that he'll be asking himself in 2003.
After parting ways with McLaren, Ricciardo has returned to Red Bull Racing where the Aussie will assume a reserve driver role next season while also undertaking numerous marketing duties with the team.
Ricciardo's part-time involvement will allow the 33-year-old to remain connected to F1 and up to speed with events and with any opportunities that may arise that could bring him back full time in 2024.
"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," Ricciardo told 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.
"That’s what people also don’t understand – I’m sorry, I’m not attacking them – but our schedule is so busy that I might train one day a week."
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To help him clear up his mindset for 2024, Ricciardo hinted at a cross country "self-reflection" plan that he hopes to execute at some point next year.
"Just taking more time for me to do things, prioritise some other things but also I’m trying to plan a ride across America," Ricciardo added.
"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; 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."
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