Danica Patrick Reveals She Cuts Off Former Lovers and Opens Up About Past Heartbreak

Danica Patrick spoke frankly about all her previous romantic relationships — and shared whether she maintains contact with any of her former partners.

"My personal stance is that if I've been with you in that intimate way, where I love and care about you, I cannot view you as a mere friend," Patrick, 43, clarified during a November episode of her "Pretty Intense" podcast, featuring guest Trevor Hanson. "If it was a serious [connection], I'll probably never communicate with you again, you know?"

Later in the same broadcast, the former race car driver discussed her challenge in knowing "when to release" from relationships.

"I'm one of those individuals who believes in doing whatever it takes. … I can see the good in them. I can sense their fundamental essence," Patrick explained. "I know who they truly are. I'm not dating based on potential. But everyone sees someone's potential, don't they?"

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Patrick continued by detailing her frequent pattern of entering relationships with individuals who exhibit an "avoidant attachment" style.

"Everything seemed fine, or it appeared resolvable," she remarked. "Or, how about you tell me what the actual problem was, instead of just leaving and then informing me, essentially saying, 'We never had a chance to resolve this. You allowed us to fail because you said nothing at all.'"

Hanson, 33, commented to Patrick that he could perceive her "considerable frustration" and that she had "likely experienced that," to which she agreed.

"I literally envision someone as I'm articulating these thoughts," she recalled. "I am a civilian expert on attachment. I consistently learn about these traits only after the relationship has ended. That's the most exasperating part. And I'm unsure why, but when I'm immersed in it, you're deeply involved, and then it's like, perhaps it's because I'm not contemplating its conclusion. … It's truly perplexing."

Patrick clarified that "immediately after" a relationship concludes, she begins to "decipher" the reasons for its breakdown.

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"I often think, 'Oh, my goodness. How did I not perceive that?'" she said. "For instance, within days later, I would realize, 'Oh, my God. He was a narcissist.' Every characteristic fit. He exhibited fearful-avoidant tendencies."

Patrick has encountered her share of romantic setbacks. The podcast host was wed to physical therapist Paul Edward Hospenthal from 2005 to 2012. She then dated NASCAR standout Ricky Stenhouse Jr. from 2012 to 2017 before moving on to Aaron Rodgers from 2018 to 2020. After her separation from Rodgers, 42, Patrick was briefly associated with Carter Comstock from 2021 to 2022.

In June, Patrick confirmed her single status at that specific moment.

"Yes," Patrick stated when asked about her relationship status during an appearance on the "Believe in the Good" podcast, before host Haley Dillon added, "I'm going to be interested to see who's sliding into my direct messages to reach yours."

Patrick laughed off Dillon's comment, quipping, "That puts me in a difficult situation, truly difficult. And I don't mean literally either."

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While Patrick is currently unattached, she has continued to openly discuss how some of her past relationships took an emotional toll on her — particularly her time with Rodgers.

"The nature of the relationship was emotionally abusive," Patrick claimed on a May episode of "The Sage Steele Show" podcast, adding that Rodgers "depleted her completely."

Although the breakup was profoundly painful for her, Patrick stated it granted her the "most significant gift": herself.

"I had a moment of 'Wow.' It bestowed upon me the greatest realization of how much I needed to prioritize and care for myself," she expressed.