Daniel Ricciardo has spoken publicly for the first time since his unceremonious Formula 1 departure.
The eight-time race winner has stayed out of the limelight since his last Grand Prix in Singapore in 2024.
He was dropped by RB (now Racing Bulls) with six races remaining in the season, and has not returned to the sport since.
The 36-year-old was in attendance at the latest round of his eponymous karting series – Daniel Ricciardo Racing – in the UK.
MORE: Full F1 2025 season schedule
He spoke to reporters at Buckmore Park about life away from racing.
"[I'm] all good!" Ricciardo said, via F1.
"I’m just enjoying some life in the slow lane.
"I mean, it sounds weird saying 'retirement' when I’m 35 years old, but retirement from at least the world I was living in.
"It’s cool."
Ricciardo also revealed that he had not set foot on a race track since exiting the paddock in Singapore last year.
"To be at the kart track ... it’s my first time at a race track since, I guess, Singapore, so quite a few months now," he said.
"But it’s cool to see the kids ... this is why I started karting
"I’ve had photos with groups of the kids, and I can tell the friendships they have, and these friendships will last a lifetime – a lot of them.
"My best friend to this day was a friend that I raced karts with.
"It’s nice to be back at like the grassroots of it and the most pure form of racing."
MORE: F1 standings 2025
The Perth native was seen enjoying some tennis at Wimbledon on Tuesday in a rare public appearance.
He has also been busy working on various passion projects and endorsement deals.
In March, he released his latest wine – a rosé in collaboration with St Hugo – before launching a New York City-based pop-up store for his clothing brand Enchanté.
He then announced a controversial partnership with Australian betting platform Dabble in June.