Few drivers leave Formula 1 with a smile as wide as the one Daniel Ricciardo wore after his final race in Singapore, a full-time career that ended not with a farewell tour but with a quiet team announcement four days after the chequered flag. This article walks through the verified timeline of that exit, why the seat disappeared, and what Ricciardo is building now.
Formula 1 Grands Prix started: 232 ·
Race wins: 8 ·
Podium finishes: 32 ·
Years active in F1: 2011–2024 ·
Last team: Visa Cash App RB (2024) ·
Nickname: The Honey Badger
Quick snapshot
- RB announced Ricciardo’s exit on 26 September 2024, with immediate effect (Formula1.com (official F1 source)).
- His final race was the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix on 22 September 2024 (Formula1.com (2024 Singapore GP page)).
- Liam Lawson replaced him for the final six races of the 2024 season (The Race (F1 specialist outlet)).
- Whether he will return to F1 in another role or race in a different series remains unconfirmed.
- The full details of his relationship status since 2023 have not been publicly confirmed.
- His ADHD disclosure has been reported, but no medical records or official diagnosis confirmation exist in public sources.
- The financial terms of his Ford Racing role have not been disclosed.
- Singapore 2024: Ricciardo finished 18th and set the fastest lap, denying Lando Norris the bonus point under the scoring rules then in force (BBC Sport (major sports broadcaster)).
- Four days later: RB confirmed he was leaving the team with immediate effect. (BBC Sport (major sports broadcaster))
- Ricciardo joined Ford Racing as a brand ambassador in late 2024 (Ford press release).
- He continues to run his Enchante clothing brand and a tailgate business with Dabble (official Ricciardo channels).
- No official announcement says he is retiring from all forms of racing. (Ford press release)
The snapshot data below compresses his key biography and career facts into a single reference table.
| Full name | Daniel Joseph Ricciardo |
| Date of birth | 1 July 1989 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| First F1 race | 2011 British Grand Prix |
| Last F1 race | 2024 Singapore Grand Prix |
| Teams driven for | HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, AlphaTauri/VCARB |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Net worth (estimated) | $30 million (multiple sources) |
| Marital status | Single (as of early 2025) |
| Children | None |
What has happened to Daniel Ricciardo in 2024?
Departure from VCARB
RB announced on 26 September 2024 that Ricciardo would leave with immediate effect (Formula1.com). The 2024 exit followed a second stint with Red Bull’s junior team, then known as RB. Liam Lawson replaced him for the final six races of the 2024 season (BBC Sport).
Final race in Singapore 2024
Ricciardo’s final F1 race was the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix on 22 September 2024 (Formula1.com). He finished 18th and set the race’s fastest lap — a detail with real consequences: it denied Lando Norris the additional fastest-lap championship point under the scoring rules then in force (BBC Sport).
The Singapore weekend was dominated by reports that Ricciardo could be removed after the race, although the team had not publicly confirmed the decision before the event ended (The Race).
Transition out of full-time F1
Ricciardo publicly acknowledged after Singapore that the race might be his last in Formula 1 (Fox Sports Australia (sports broadcaster)). He described himself as being at peace with that possibility and said his attempt to return to the senior Red Bull team had not worked out (The Independent).
Ricciardo’s final F1 lap was his fastest of the race — and it directly cost a title contender a point. His exit was announced four days later.
The implication: Ricciardo’s last race was not a quiet parade lap. It changed the 2024 drivers’ championship math and marked the end of a 13-season career that began with HRT in 2011 and included 232 Grands Prix starts. The pattern across his final years was a driver chasing a return to Red Bull’s senior team that never arrived.
Why did Daniel Ricciardo leave Formula 1?
Performance decline
Ricciardo was 35 years old when RB ended his 2024 campaign (BBC Sport). His earlier return to the junior team was meant to rebuild his case for a top seat, but the results did not force Red Bull to change its plans.
After leaving McLaren at the end of 2022, Ricciardo became Red Bull’s reserve driver in 2023. He returned to the Red Bull junior team during the 2023 season after Nyck de Vries was removed (The Independent (UK newspaper)). His 2023 return was interrupted when he broke his wrist in a crash at the Dutch Grand Prix (BBC Sport).
McLaren exit 2022
The McLaren chapter is essential context. Ricciardo won the 2021 Italian Grand Prix for McLaren — the team’s first win since 2012 — but McLaren released him early at the end of 2022. He lost his full-time seat and spent a year on the sidelines at Red Bull, hoping the damage to his market value would heal. It did not fully recover.
Red Bull return and demotion
Liam Lawson substituted for the injured Ricciardo for five Grands Prix in 2023 (Formula1.com). Lawson scored two points and finished ninth at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix during that substitute stint (BBC Sport). When the 2024 season needed a replacement, Red Bull’s junior programme chose youth over experience.
Red Bull’s junior programme operates as a meritocracy, not a loyalty program. Ricciardo’s reputation made him valuable — but not valuable enough to block the promotion path for Liam Lawson, who had already proven himself in the same car.
Is Daniel Ricciardo retiring from F1 permanently?
No official retirement statement
Ricciardo has not formally announced retirement from all racing. He said the Red Bull senior team opportunity “had not worked out” but has not ruled out other racing categories (The Independent). His F1 career as a full-time driver is over; his racing career continues in a different form.
Future as ambassador
Ricciardo joined Ford Racing as a brand ambassador in late 2024 (Ford press release). That role keeps him inside motorsport without a race seat. He remains visible at events, in advertising, and across his own media channels — a shift from driving to earning potential that matches his marketability.
The distinction matters: an official team exit and an explicitly announced retirement are not the same event. RB ended his contract; Ricciardo has not closed the door on racing elsewhere. Why this matters: for fans, the difference is emotional — a farewell versus a firing. For sponsors, the difference is commercial — a retired driver has a story to tell, and Ricciardo keeps telling it.
What is Daniel Ricciardo doing now?
Brand ambassador roles
- Ford Racing ambassador, announced in 2024 (Ford press release).
- Ongoing partnerships and appearances linked to his public profile as a former F1 race winner.
His off-track portfolio is more developed than most drivers’. Ricciardo founded the clothing brand Enchante and manages a tailgate business with Dabble. These ventures were built during his F1 career and now form the core of his daily professional work.
The pattern: Ricciardo is converting attention into products. His nickname “The Honey Badger” and his shoey podium celebration gave him a personality edge — now he is monetizing that edge outside the cockpit.
Ricciardo’s income no longer depends on race results. For a 35-year-old former driver, that is the difference between a forced retirement and a chosen transition.
Is Daniel Ricciardo single now?
Ricciardo split from long-term girlfriend Heidi Berger in 2023. He has not publicly confirmed a new partner as of early 2025. There is no evidence supporting a romantic relationship with broadcaster Natalie Pinkham. He has no children and has never been married.
The clarification matters because fan speculation runs ahead of verified facts. His public status is single; anything beyond that is gossip without a source.
Daniel Ricciardo’s career timeline
The timeline runs from his 2011 debut to the Ford announcement, with the 2024 exit as the break.
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| July 2011 | F1 debut with HRT at British Grand Prix. |
| 2014 | First F1 win at Canadian Grand Prix; finishes 3rd in championship. |
| 2016–2018 | Wins 7 races for Red Bull Racing. |
| 2019–2020 | Drives for Renault; wins 2020 Eifel Grand Prix. |
| 2021–2022 | Moves to McLaren; wins 2021 Italian Grand Prix (McLaren’s first win since 2012). |
| Late 2022 | McLaren releases Ricciardo early; he loses full-time seat. |
| 2023 | Red Bull reserve driver; replaces de Vries at AlphaTauri mid-season. |
| 22 September 2024 | Final F1 race at Singapore Grand Prix with VCARB. |
| Late 2024 | Announced as Ford Racing ambassador; confirms no 2025 F1 seat. |
One pattern across that timeline: every high point was followed by a management decision that shifted power away from him.
Confirmed facts and open questions
Confirmed
- Ricciardo’s F1 career ended after the 2024 Singapore GP (Formula1.com).
- He was replaced by Liam Lawson at VCARB (BBC Sport).
- He is a Ford Racing brand ambassador as of late 2024 (Ford press release).
- He has no children and has never been married (biographical sources).
Unclear
- Whether he will return to F1 in a non-driving role or pursue other racing series.
- The full details of his relationship status post-2023.
- The exact date of his ADHD diagnosis — publicly stated but not medically confirmed in accessible records.
- The financial terms of his Ford Racing role have not been disclosed.
The balance is weighted toward confirmed facts. The open questions concern the future, not the past.
What people close to Ricciardo have said
“I’m at peace with it.”
Daniel Ricciardo, speaking after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix (The Independent (UK newspaper))
“It was just pure relief.”
Liam Lawson, quoted by Formula1.com during his 2024 return to a race seat (Formula1.com (official F1 source))
Ricciardo also said his attempt to rejoin the senior Red Bull team “had not worked out” and publicly acknowledged that the Singapore race might be his last in F1 (Fox Sports Australia).
The throughline in his public comments: acceptance, not bitterness. That tone helps explain why brands like Ford want him on their payroll.
Summary
Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 career ended on 22 September 2024 in Singapore — a race where he finished 18th, set the fastest lap, and denied Lando Norris a championship point. RB made the exit official four days later, and Liam Lawson took the seat. Ricciardo left without a formal retirement announcement and without a 2025 drive. For fans following his career closely, the decision is clear: Ricciardo has not closed the door on racing, but his focus is on what he can build with Ford, Enchante, and Dabble.
Frequently asked questions
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth in 2025?
Multiple sources estimate his net worth at roughly $30 million. The figure combines his F1 salaries, endorsement deals, and business ventures.
Does Daniel Ricciardo have ADHD?
Ricciardo has publicly spoken about having ADHD. No detailed medical records or formal diagnostic documents have been published, so the exact date and clinical confirmation remain unverified in public sources.
Are Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen still friends?
Yes. They were teammates at Red Bull from 2016 to 2018 and have continued to speak warmly about each other in public interviews. Their friendship is one of the most consistent relationships in the paddock.
What is the shoey that Daniel Ricciardo does?
The shoey is a podium celebration where Ricciardo drinks from his racing boot. He made it his signature celebration after his first F1 win in Canada in 2014.
How tall is Daniel Ricciardo?
He is 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) tall.
Is Daniel Ricciardo married?
No. He has never been married and has no children.
Does Daniel Ricciardo have a girlfriend in 2025?
He has not publicly confirmed a partner as of early 2025. He split from long-term girlfriend Heidi Berger in 2023.
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Oliver Jack Carter Cooper is a staff writer for EveningLedger.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Edward Langley and Managing Editor Charlotte Reeves, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.