Few drivers leave Formula 1 with the kind of goodwill Daniel Ricciardo carried off the grid. Across 257 starts and eight wins, he became F1’s most reliably entertaining personality — yet never won a world championship (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive)). This article pulls together his career numbers, the messy McLaren departure, and where the “Honey Badger” sits in Australia’s F1 story.
F1 starts: 257 ·
Grand Prix wins: 8 ·
Pole positions: 3 ·
World titles: 0 ·
First F1 win: 2014 Canadian Grand Prix ·
Last F1 race: 2024 Singapore Grand Prix
Quick snapshot
- 257 F1 starts (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive))
- 8 Grand Prix wins (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive))
- 3 pole positions (McLaren F1 historical statistics (fan-maintained stats database))
- Exact net worth is not officially published; estimates vary by source
- Marital status is not publicly confirmed
- A long-term non-racing role, if any, has not been defined
- Whether Ricciardo will race in another series is unconfirmed
- First win: 2014 Canadian Grand Prix (McLaren F1 historical statistics)
- Last win: 2021 Italian Grand Prix (McLaren Racing (official team archive))
- Final race: 2024 Singapore Grand Prix (PlanetF1 (F1 news coverage))
- No full-time F1 seat after 2024 (PlanetF1 (F1 news coverage))
- Post-F1 life updates reported in 2025 (PlanetF1 (F1 news coverage))
- Reserve or ambassadorial roles remain possible
Seven numbers define a 14-season F1 career that produced moments, not championships.
| Attribute | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Born | 1 July 1989, Perth, Australia | Honda Global (official manufacturer profile) |
| F1 seasons | 2011–2024 | ESPN (motorsport statistics archive) |
| Teams | HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, AlphaTauri/RB | Honda Global (official manufacturer profile) |
| F1 starts | 257 | ESPN (motorsport statistics archive) |
| Wins | 8 | McLaren F1 historical statistics (fan-maintained stats database) |
| Pole positions | 3 | Honda Global (official manufacturer profile) |
| Last race | 2024 Singapore Grand Prix | PlanetF1 (F1 news coverage) |
Is Daniel Ricciardo still in Red Bull?
Not as a race driver. Ricciardo’s final F1 event was the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix (PlanetF1 (F1 news coverage)), and he has not held a full-time seat since.
Ricciardo’s 2023 Red Bull return
- Ricciardo spent 2023 as a Red Bull reserve driver before returning to racing with AlphaTauri/RB (PlanetF1 (F1 news coverage))
- The return came after McLaren ended their partnership at the close of 2022 (McLaren Racing (official team archive))
Final stint with AlphaTauri/RB
The 2023 comeback never turned into a full revival: AlphaTauri/RB ran Ricciardo for the rest of the season, but the results did not produce a long-term contract.
By the end of 2024, Ricciardo was out of a race seat entirely.
Post-2024 grid exit
- No full-time Formula 1 seat for the 2025 grid
- Post-F1 life updates reported in 2025 (PlanetF1 (F1 news coverage))
The implication: Ricciardo’s Red Bull chapter closed twice — once in 2018 when he left for Renault, and again in 2023 when a reserve role led to a short, inconclusive comeback.
Why did McLaren sack Ricciardo?
McLaren and Ricciardo ended their partnership after the 2022 season, one year before the contract was originally expected to finish (PlanetF1 (F1 news coverage)). The decision capped two seasons that began with a win and ended with a slump.
What happened in 2022
- McLaren seasons: 2
- Races: 39
- Points-scoring finishes: 13
All figures from McLaren Racing (official team archive).
Ricciardo’s time at McLaren started with a victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix (McLaren Racing (official team archive)), but the high point came early. After that, the results trailed off, and the team moved on.
McLaren’s driver decision
- Contract ended one year early (PlanetF1 (F1 news coverage))
- Departure confirmed after the 2022 season (McLaren Racing (official team archive))
Oscar Piastri’s arrival
Oscar Piastri: Australian · McLaren seat: 2023 · Replaces: Ricciardo (McLaren Racing (official team archive))
The pattern: McLaren pressed the reset button after two seasons, prioritized Piastri, and ended Ricciardo’s second major team relationship a year early.
How good was Daniel Ricciardo?
Ricciardo’s record is better than many remember and lighter than his reputation suggests. Eight wins, three pole positions, and 257 starts put him among the most successful drivers of his generation without a title.
Eight wins and three poles
Wins: 8 (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive)) · Poles: 3 (McLaren F1 historical statistics) · Podiums: 32 (McLaren F1 historical statistics)
Ricciardo won three races in 2014, one in 2016, one in 2017, two in 2018, and one in 2021 (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive)). Seven of the eight came with Red Bull; the last came with McLaren.
Signature podium moments
- First F1 win: 2014 Canadian Grand Prix (McLaren F1 historical statistics)
- Last F1 win: 2021 Italian Grand Prix (McLaren Racing (official team archive))
- The “shoey” — drinking champagne from a race boot — became his trademark celebration
Reputation in the paddock
Widely considered one of the most popular drivers in F1, Ricciardo never converted that goodwill into a title fight.
The result: Ricciardo’s career is remembered for its peak moments and personality, not for a sustained championship challenge.
How many F1 races has Daniel Ricciardo won?
Eight. The wins came in three distinct periods: three in 2014, scattered singles in 2016 and 2017, two in 2018, and one with McLaren in 2021.
All eight F1 victories
- 2014: 3 wins (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive))
- 2016: 1 win (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive))
- 2017: 1 win (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive))
- 2018: 2 wins (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive))
- 2021: 1 win, Italian Grand Prix (McLaren Racing (official team archive))
First win: 2014 Canadian Grand Prix
His first win came in a season where Mercedes dominated; Ricciardo’s three victories were the most by any non-Mercedes driver that year.
The Canadian Grand Prix broke a dry run that stretched back to his HRT debut in 2011 (Honda Global (official manufacturer profile)).
Last win: 2021 Italian Grand Prix
- McLaren’s only win with Ricciardo (McLaren Racing (official team archive))
- The eighth and final Grand Prix victory of his career
What this means: Ricciardo’s win list is compact but memorable — two of his eight victories came at circuits with deep history, Montreal and Monza.
Who are some Australian Formula One drivers?
Australia has produced two world champions and a handful of race winners. Ricciardo sits among the most successful of the race winners.
World champions from Australia
- Jack Brabham, three-time world champion
- Alan Jones, 1980 world champion
Modern Australian F1 race winners
- Mark Webber, multiple Grand Prix winner
- Daniel Ricciardo, eight Grand Prix wins (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive))
- Oscar Piastri, race winner for McLaren (McLaren Racing (official team archive))
Ricciardo’s place in that group
Australia has had star drivers, but only two world champions; Ricciardo’s eight wins make him one of the country’s most successful Grand Prix winners, without the title.
For a broader review of his career and its aftermath, see Daniel Ricciardo F1 career: wins, McLaren exit, and legacy. His final race and net worth are covered in Daniel Ricciardo’s last race and career stats.
The pattern: Australia has produced champions, but Ricciardo’s eight wins make him the country’s most prolific non-champion.
Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 timeline
- 1989: Born in Perth, Australia (Honda Global (official manufacturer profile))
- 2011: F1 debut with HRT at the British Grand Prix (Honda Global (official manufacturer profile))
- 2014: Joins Red Bull Racing and wins first Grand Prix in Canada (McLaren F1 historical statistics)
- 2018: Leaves Red Bull at season’s end, joins Renault for 2019 (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive))
- 2021: Wins the Italian Grand Prix with McLaren (McLaren Racing (official team archive))
- 2022: McLaren confirms Ricciardo will depart; Piastri replaces him for 2023 (McLaren Racing (official team archive))
- 2023: Red Bull reserve driver, then racing with AlphaTauri/RB (PlanetF1 (F1 news coverage))
- 2024: Final F1 race at the Singapore Grand Prix (PlanetF1 (F1 news coverage))
The timeline shows a career that peaked in two distinct Red Bull eras and faded after McLaren.
What’s confirmed and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Final F1 race: 2024 Singapore Grand Prix (PlanetF1 (F1 news coverage))
- 257 F1 starts and 3 pole positions (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive)) (McLaren F1 historical statistics)
- 8 Grand Prix victories (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive))
- No Formula 1 World Championship (ESPN (motorsport statistics archive))
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth: not officially published; estimates vary
- Marital status: not publicly confirmed
- Long-term non-racing role: undefined
- Whether Ricciardo will race in another series: unconfirmed
The confirmed numbers anchor the career; the unresolved details are mostly personal and financial.
Voices on Ricciardo’s career
“Ricciardo drove for McLaren in 2021 and 2022, scoring points in 13 of his 39 races and winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.”
“The partnership was brought to an early end after the 2022 season, with Oscar Piastri taking the second McLaren seat for 2023.”
Both accounts agree: Ricciardo’s speed was real, but the fit at McLaren never became consistent.
The takeaway
Ricciardo’s career is the counterproof to the idea that championships measure a driver’s worth. Eight wins, three poles, 257 starts, and a reputation that outlasted his last race — the record speaks for itself. For Ricciardo, the racing chapter is closed, and the door back to a full-time seat is effectively shut; the lasting image is of a driver who made F1 more fun, one shoey at a time.
Frequently asked questions
Has Daniel Ricciardo won a Formula 1 Championship?
No. Ricciardo finished his career with eight Grand Prix wins but no world title.
What was Daniel Ricciardo’s last F1 race?
The 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.
What teams did Daniel Ricciardo drive for in F1?
HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, and AlphaTauri/RB.
What is Daniel Ricciardo doing after F1?
He has shared updates about his post-F1 life in 2025; no full-time racing return has been announced.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth?
An exact figure is not officially published; estimates vary by source.
Why is Daniel Ricciardo nicknamed the Honey Badger?
The nickname reflects his feisty, ruthless driving style on track.
For fans, the FAQ answers match the wider record: Ricciardo won races, never won a title, and left the grid after Singapore.
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.