Daniel Ricciardo gives his take on FIA changing "unfair" rule

RB driver Daniel Ricciardo reacted to a recent F1 regulation change for the 2025 season. Calling out an earlier rule as "unfair," he is supportive of the new directive.

F1 recently announced that the minimum weight allowance for a driver will be increased from 80 kgs to 82 kgs from the 2025 season. This means that the dry weight of the car will increase to 800 kg; 2 kg more than the current regulation.

Daniel Ricciardo, reacting to the rule change, stated that it is physically difficult for some drivers to adjust to the weight. His statement revealed that some drivers dehydrate themselves to fit into the weight category. Hence, he has a positive outlook towards this rule change.

"[Drivers] can’t help being tall," SI.com quoted Ricciardo. "So it's unfair if they have to kind of dehydrate themselves just to make the weight."

"Even if we’re not even reaching that weight, it is nice that we have the freedom to be the athletes that we need to be, and it’s not like: ‘Oh, we have to watch out, we can’t do too much strength training.'"

"Having a little bit of freedom now around our training, that’s a big benefit for a lot of us," he added.

Ricciardo currently races for RB. He made a return to racing mid-season in 2023 replacing Nyck de Vries and has continued to race since. He was recently said to be a contender for Red Bull's second seat alongside Max Verstappen when Sergio Perez's performance was under the radar. However, the team announced that they would be continuing with Perez.

With no contract for the 2025 season, Daniel Ricciardo's future might be under question.

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Daniel Ricciardo says he "would be sad" if 2024 was the last season of his F1 career

Although speculations have tied the Australian with a potential full-time return to Red Bull in 2025, the team has not officially confirmed it. Furthermore, with them revealing that they will continue with Sergio Perez, the hopes for Ricciardo's return seem to be disappearing.

Amidst this, Daniel Ricciardo was asked by Motorsport.com how he would react if the 2024 F1 season was the final one of his career. He stated that although he would be "sad," he would "take it from a place of gratitude."

"So, it would be sad, but I would definitely take it from a place of gratitude as well, and I think that’s where my perspective can help sometimes," he told Motorsport (via PlanetF1).

"Look, I’m grateful that I had the time I had, and I was able to drive a car that won races. I’ve had a more than 10-year career in a sport I know many can only dream of. I would probably go to bed with that thought. But inside, I feel like I’m not ready."

Daniel Ricciardo reached the peak of his career racing with Red Bull. However, he decided to move to Renault in 2019. Following that, he signed with McLaren and was with the team for two seasons in 2021 and 2022. The contract ended on a mutual basis post-2022, and he was signed by Red Bull Racing again as a third driver.

While he continues to be in that position with Red Bull, he drives for their junior team RB on a full-time basis.