Latest news with #Ricciardo
New York Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
How Daniel Ricciardo works out after leaving Formula 1
Daniel Ricciardo might've waved the checkered flag on his Formula One career, but don't expect him to hit the brakes on his fitness anytime soon. The Australian racing star is 'enjoying life in the slow lane,' but off the track, he's still charging full-speed ahead when it comes to his health. The Post caught up with Ricciardo, 36, to see how his workouts have shifted gears since hanging up his helmet last year — and which wellness products he still counts on every morning. 7 Daniel Ricciardo competed in Formula One from 2011 to 2024. AFP via Getty Images Training as an F1 superstar: Stay light and keep your neck strong If you've ever sped down the highway with a McDonald's drive-thru bag in your lap, you might wonder why a race care drives need to stay in top shape. But Ricciardo said that for Formula 1 athletes, fitness is non-negotiable. Drivers must be able to endure punishing G-forces, grueling hourslong races and intense mental fatigue that push their bodies and brains to the limit. When he was racing, Ricciardo trained six days a week — often twice a day. But his workout goals might surprise you. The focus was being strong but also 'really light,' since he had to stay under roughly 155 pounds to maximize speed. 'We couldn't do much strength training and you really can't put on much muscle,' he said. One key part of his routine was neck-strengthening exercises using harnesses and resistance bands. These are vital because during cornering, braking and acceleration, drivers experience immense G-forces — often five to six times the force of gravity — and their neck muscles have to be strong enough to withstand that intense pressure. 7 For race car drivers, neck exercises are crucial for withstanding the intense G-forces experienced during a race. Getty Images A gravity-fighting core Ricciardo also focused on developing a strong core with exercises like planks, bridges and pull-ups. A strong core is essential to help resist those intense G-forces and also prevents the body from being jolted around inside the cockpit. Since races can last up to two hours, maintaining good posture and preventing fatigue are also critical. A solid core helps drivers stay comfortable and alert, reducing the risk of injury or loss of concentration. 7 A strong core provides stability and balance to helps drivers withstand intense G forces during a race. Daniel Ricciardo / YouTube Don't forget leg day Ricciardo also needed powerful quadriceps to extend his knees when braking, plus strong legs and ankles to apply the precise force required on the brake pedal. To achieve this, he turned to moves like weighted calf raises, kettlebell lunges and step-ups. Ricciardo trained for lean, functional strength that could support endurance — helping him maintain a high heart rate, manage fluid loss from sweat in extreme heat and stay laser-focused for up to two hours behind the wheel. 'In F1, everything is coming at you so fast. Once that gets blurry and you don't have the capacity to keep the frame in focus, that's when mistakes happen,' Ricciardo said. 'There's no denying it's a dangerous sport, and you just never want to expose yourself through a lack of preparation,' he added. 7 Mental endurance is critical while racing, enabling drivers to remain focused, make sound decisions and stay calm under pressure. Getty Images Ricciardo current workout — and his burnout-proof method These days, Ricciardo's fitness goals have shifted gears — and so has his approach to working out. 'What's really nice is I'm just training for myself, my own happiness and wellbeing,' he said. 'I'm able to put on some weight and do things I deprived myself of for a long time. I'm getting a new enjoyment out of it.' He aims for at least one hour of physical activity a day. That often includes outdoor workouts, like mountain biking or running. 'Going for a run is therapeutic for me,' Ricciardo said. 'It's a way for me to feel good about myself and have some personal time to reflect on things.' 7 For Ricciardo, running is just as beneficial for his mental health as it is physical. Getty Images He also frequently breaks a sweat in his home gym. 'I'd been neglecting a lot of the basic strength exercises because of trying to stay under weight, so I really enjoy doing squats, deadlifts and bench presses,' he said. 'That's been really, really good for me.' 'It's crazy that sitting still can be so powerful — and so hard to do. I've been doing it for six months now and I'm still terrible at it.' Daniel Ricciardo Ricciardo aims to complete eight to twelve reps per set, hoping to avoid burnout. 'I'm trying to train at like a six or seven out of ten,' he said. 'That way I can do it more frequently.' The 'chill' wellness practice that's easier said than done About four days a week, he starts his mornings with dynamic stretching to wake up his body and loosen stiff muscles. He also tries to meditate every other day, but only manages five to eight minutes at a time. 7 Meditation has been linked to a wide range of benefits, including reduced stress and anxiety. Getty Images 'It's crazy that sitting still can be so powerful — and so hard to do,' he said. 'I've been doing it for six months now and I'm still terrible at it. My thoughts are still pinballing around everywhere.' He's also relieved that to put neck-strengthening exercises behind him. The supplement routine that keeps him going 'I still take the same supplements now as when I was racing,' Ricciardo said. 'Back then, it was just to avoid getting sick with the crazy schedule. Now, I take them and have energy.' Ricciardo, a longtime partner of wellness brand Thorne, starts every day with their Daily Greens Plus — a blend designed to boost endurance, enhance cognitive performance, support cellular energy production and provide antioxidants that promote healthy aging. 7 Ricciardo uses supplements to ramp up his training. Daniel Ricciardo / Instagram He also takes the company's Amino Complex and creatine, two staples that help support lean muscle growth, increase strength and speed up recovery. To stay hydrated and keep energy levels steady, he sips Thorne's Daily Electrolytes drink. One newer addition to his routine is theanine, an amino acid known to support a healthy stress response while promoting relaxation, focus and memory. Now that he's able to bulk up, Ricciardo often indulges in a protein shake or two as well. With nearly 2 in 5 US adults obese — and many more falling short of recommended exercise guidelines — the star has simple advice for those looking to rev up their own fitness journey. 'You just have to stay with it,' he said. 'I've been trying to put on muscle for nine or ten months. Things don't happen overnight, but over time, you feel everything — and the results show. I feel so much better about myself now.'
Pink Villa
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull exit era comes with a love story: Meet his girlfriend Heidi Berger
Daniel Ricciardo's post-Red Bull chapter has not gone the way fans hoped. After struggling through a tough stint at McLaren, a brief return to the grid, and then being dropped by the Racing Bulls in late 2024, Ricciardo's F1 career appears to have run its course. Off-track, however, the Australian driver has found something far more stable—a long-running relationship with Austrian-Portuguese actress Heidi Berger, who has quietly built a name for herself in entertainment while staying connected to the world of racing. Born into racing, built for something else Heidi Berger is no stranger to fast cars or world-famous circuits. She's the daughter of Austrian F1 veteran Gerhard Berger, who competed in over 200 Grand Prix races across 14 seasons. Her mother, Ana Corvo, was a model in Portugal, which partly explains Heidi's blend of camera comfort and international flair. Despite her racing lineage, Heidi did not take to the track herself. Instead, she pursued acting, appearing in several Portuguese-language television series in her early 20s. Born on April 4, 1997, in Monte Carlo, Monaco, the 28-year-old is still working in the industry, although she has taken a step back from constant screen work in recent years. Besides the silver screen, Berger's Instagram feed tells the story of a woman who loves to travel. From surfing in Hawaii and exploring the beaches of Spain to hiking in the Alps and dates with Ricciardo on Venetian waters, the Ludwig actress has been all over the world. Private, but not invisible Ricciardo first hinted at their relationship on Instagram in 2022. A photo carousel simply titled 'Us' kicked off the speculation. By 2023, the couple went official: showing up at weddings, appearing at select F1 races, and sharing vacation snapshots from Japan and Europe. While Daniel's public life has always revolved around engines and podiums, Heidi stays relatively low-profile. Still, Ricciardo once told Fizy & Wippa, 'I got a good thing going.' That was all fans needed to hear about their relationship. So, who is Heidi Berger? An actress, a traveler, and a daughter of F1 royalty. She's someone who is not defined by who she's dating, even if it's Daniel Ricciardo.
Newsweek
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Cadillac F1 Team Principal Opens up About Potential Daniel Ricciardo Signing
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Addressing the possibility of Daniel Ricciardo racing for the Cadillac Formula One team in 2026, team principal Graeme Lowdon has stated that the team won't be pursuing the Australian driver following his F1 exit last year. Ricciardo raced for Red Bull's junior F1 team, VCARB (now Racing Bulls), alongside Yuki Tsunoda last year. He aimed to outperform his Japanese teammate and earn a promotion to race alongside Max Verstappen. However, Tsunoda managed to outperform Ricciardo, who struggled to score points. The team decided to part ways with him after the Singapore Grand Prix. Ricciardo's term with VCARB turned out to be his last in F1. Months later, he was heard saying in a video that he was done with F1. As Cadillac gears up to race as the sport's eleventh team next year, it has been seeking suitable talent to fill both seats. The American outfit is looking for a driver with considerable premier-class racing experience, a veteran who could guide the team in its initial years. Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Visa Cash App RB F1 team looks on in the paddock after qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 21, 2024... Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Visa Cash App RB F1 team looks on in the paddock after qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 21, 2024 in Singapore, Singapore. MoreThat was when the topic of Ricciardo came up, prompting Lowdon to rule him out as an option. Speaking to Jake Humphrey on the High Performance Podcast, the Cadillac team boss said: "Yeah, actually, I think he's publicly said that he's not interested in Formula 1." When asked if he would consider changing Ricciardo's mind, Lowdon said: "It's not my job. If I need to convince someone, then it's the wrong person. You never need to convince a Formula 1 driver to jump in the car. I've got no problem; everyone can make their own mind up." Lowdon revealed that he was less keen on hiring talent who want to "prove a personal point," and acknowledged that he was speaking to Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. Apart from current F1 drivers, Lowdon admitted to having spoken to young talent from the junior categories. He said: "There's some really good F2 drivers, you know, Felipe Drugovich, Fred Vesti, you know, the list kind of goes on." When asked about Arvid Lindblad, Lowdon acknowledged, saying: "Yeah, Arvid, really good guy. He's doing a great job. You know, he has Red Bull." Cadillac reportedly spoke to many drivers over the British Grand Prix weekend, such as Jak Crawford, Jack Doohan, Zhou Guanyu, and Drugovich. Bottas likely had a second round of discussion with the team. However, it is not known when Cadillac will finalize its driver lineup and announce it officially. Related: Cadillac F1 Adopts NASA's Apollo Mission Strategy for 2026 Debut
Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Lando Norris was smashed in the face by McLaren team-mate on British GP grid
Lando Norris knows better than most that F1 can be a savage sport, but the McLaren ace was not expecting to be struck in the face by his former team-mate F1 may be the most dangerous sport in the world, but one of Lando Norris' biggest hits to the head was in a different race. The Bristolian is one of the favourites to emerge from Silverstone victorious at the British Grand Prix this weekend. He has come close to victory on two occasions, finishing second in 2023 and third in 2024. Last year's GP proved to be a difficult weekend for Norris, as his decision making regarding what tires to use saw him lose pace with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. However, the 2022 GP was also memorable as his head was nearly separated from his shoulders by former driving partner Daniel Ricciardo launching a space hopper at his face. The Australian's aim could not have been better, as he caught the Brit right on the nose. Ricciardo and Norris were enjoying an entertaining space hopper race against each other at the home straight of Silverstone, as fans watched on eagerly. The bouncy GP did not start well for the Brit, as he quickly slipped off and fell backwards. He had a lot of ground to make up on his Australian rival, who looked destined to bounce over the finish line. Norris engaged in a bit of gamesmanship by picking up the space hopper and running past the Honey Badger. As Norris was about to pass Ricciardo, the Aussie picked up his own space hopper and launched it right into his face from point-blank range. Perhaps realising things may have been taken a bit too far, Ricciardo instantly checked up on his team-mate, whose eyes may have been watering at the time. While Norris could be heard shouting, "I can't see" Ricciardo, who was trying to hold back his laughter, could be heard saying: "You know when you do something and you realise you probably shouldn't have done it? It was too late." Norris was able to see the funny side. At the time, Ricciardo was McLaren's main man, while Norris was the youthful prodigy who was expected to push him. However, Norris comfortably outperformed his more experienced team-mate considerably, finishing 7th and amassing 122 points, compared to Ricciardo's disappointing 11th placed finish with just 37 points. In August 2022, Ricciardo was brutally sacked by McLaren, who decided to terminate his contract a year later. They would go on to replace the Australian with Oscar Piastri, who was a reserve at Alpine at the time. Things have changed remarkably for both Norris and Piastri this year. The pair are neck and neck at the top of the F1 standings, with Piastri commanding a narrow 15-point lead over his McLaren team-mate. All eyes will be on the McLaren duo at Silverstone this weekend. After his departure, Ricciardo was re-signed by Red Bull as a third driver in November 2022. He would go on to be promoted to a race seat in their second team as a replacement for Nick de Vries in July 2023. However, after being unable to outperform Yuki Tsunoda, Ricciardo was replaced by Liam Lawson in September 2024. While he has not announced his retirement, Ricciardo is currently away from F1, having not been signed by anybody for the 2025 campaign.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Daniel Ricciardo Embraces ‘Slow Lane' Life After F1 Exit
Daniel Ricciardo Embraces 'Slow Lane' Life After F1 Exit originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Daniel Ricciardo's trademark grin is still as bright as ever. Only now, it's beaming from a karting track rather than the cockpit of a Formula 1 car. At 36, the Australian star is settling into what he cheekily calls 'the slow lane,' embracing a more laid-back chapter after an unceremonious exit from F1 last year. Advertisement Ricciardo's once-promising return with AlphaTauri (now VCARB) in 2023 seemed a chance to rebuild his career. But after a wrist-breaking crash at Zandvoort, followed by a string of poor performances in 2024, he was replaced after Singapore by Liam Lawson. With no seat lined up, Ricciardo quietly stepped back from the spotlight. Aside from the occasional Instagram post and sponsor cameo, he kept a low profile, leaving fans wondering about how he was truly handling life off the grid. Now we have our answer. At a recent Daniel Ricciardo Series karting event at Buckmore Park, Ricciardo opened up revealing he's more than content with how things have turned out. Daniel Ricciardo in the pit lane during the practice Bolte-Imagn Images 'I'm just enjoying some life in the slow lane,' he laughed, describing the joy of reconnecting the grassroots side of racing. "I mean, it sounds weird saying like retirement when I'm 35 years old, but retirement from at least the world I was living in. So it's cool, you know, to be at the kart track. It's my first time at a racetrack in since, I guess, Singapore, so since quite a few months now," he further added. Advertisement It's a far cry from the relentless pressure of chasing podiums and contracts in F1, but Ricciardo seems genuinely at peace and still very much in love with motorsport. For fans who remember his electric overtakes and infectious personality, it's a bittersweet turn. But seeing Ricciardo light up the kart track stress-free and surrounded by young racers inspired by him is a reminder that there's life beyond F1's brutal calendar. Even if it's a few mph slower. Related: Max Verstappen Drops Five-Word Hint on Rumored Mercedes Move This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
