Few Formula 1 drivers mixed speed and personality as memorably as Daniel Ricciardo — the late-braking passes, the shoey celebrations, the grin that survived every setback. His final reported F1 start came at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, per Yahoo Sports’ F1 coverage, and he now works as a global ambassador for Ford Racing, according to Motorsport.com Australia’s F1 desk. Between those two points sits a career full of wins, what-ifs, and one very public exit from Red Bull. The second act is still being written.
F1 wins: 8 (2014–2021) ·
Teams driven for: HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, RB (Visa Cash App) ·
Highest annual salary: $27 million (Renault, 2020) ·
Last F1 appearance: 2024 Singapore Grand Prix ·
Current role: Global ambassador / media personality
Quick snapshot
- Last reported F1 start: 2024 Singapore Grand Prix (Yahoo Sports’ F1 coverage)
- Global ambassador for Ford Racing (Motorsport.com Australia’s F1 desk)
- Full retirement date: reportedly September 2025 in some reports (Read Motorsport’s Ricciardo interview report)
- Exact net worth: estimates vary between $40M and $50M (Formula Daily’s Ricciardo profile)
- 2024: Racing Bulls replaced Ricciardo with Liam Lawson (Yahoo Sports’ F1 coverage)
- 2026: Ford + Enchanté pop-up planned for October 22–25 in Austin (Motorsport.com Australia’s F1 desk)
- Post-F1 projects: fashion, karting, media (Read Motorsport’s Ricciardo interview report)
- Daniel Ricciardo Series karting program with Ginetta Junior Scholarship (Formula Daily’s Ricciardo profile)
Seven numbers that frame Ricciardo’s career—drawn from GPFans’ F1 driver profile and Yahoo Sports’ F1 coverage.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel Joseph Ricciardo |
| Date of birth | July 1, 1989 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| F1 debut | 2011 British Grand Prix (HRT) |
| Last F1 race | 2024 Singapore Grand Prix |
| F1 wins | 8 |
| Nickname | The Honey Badger |
Is Daniel Ricciardo still driving?
No, not in Formula 1. His last confirmed race weekend was the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, and Racing Bulls replaced him with Liam Lawson for the rest of that season, per Yahoo Sports’ F1 coverage. Described in 2026 reporting as retired from the grid, Ricciardo has not signed a contract for the 2026 season (GPFans’ Austin report).
What is Daniel Ricciardo doing now in 2026?
- He works as a global ambassador for Ford Racing, with Raptor-specific appearances (Motorsport.com Australia’s F1 desk).
- He was traveling from Arizona to Austin during the 2026 United States Grand Prix weekend (GPFans’ Austin report).
- His Enchanté lifestyle brand and Ford Racing planned a pop-up event in Austin from October 22–25, 2026 (Motorsport.com Australia’s F1 desk).
For a driver who no longer races, the calendar is still full—it’s just built around launches, appearances, and brand partnerships instead of practice sessions.
Ricciardo’s value now runs through Ford and Enchanté, not race entries. Ford gets a US-GP-friendly bridge to the Raptor brand, while Ricciardo keeps his name attached to F1 without needing a seat.
The pattern: Ricciardo has turned his on-track persona into a commercial operation. That’s a career shift, not a gap year.
Why did McLaren sack Ricciardo?
McLaren hired Ricciardo for 2021 expecting a race winner. He delivered exactly one, at Monza in 2021, per GPFans’ F1 driver profile. The results around that win fell short of targets, and the contract was cut short by a year. McLaren reportedly paid around $21 million to terminate the deal, and Ricciardo later admitted the car’s driving style did not suit him (Read Motorsport’s Ricciardo interview report).
Did Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull?
- Ricciardo left Red Bull at the end of 2018, and Yahoo Sports reported he said he was grateful as that Red Bull chapter closed (Yahoo Sports’ F1 coverage).
- He later admitted the driving style mismatch at McLaren contributed to his struggles (Read Motorsport’s Ricciardo interview report).
How much money did Renault pay Daniel Ricciardo?
- His Renault salary reached a reported $27 million in 2020 (Formula Daily’s Ricciardo profile).
- By comparison, McLaren’s early exit reportedly cost the team around $21 million (Read Motorsport’s Ricciardo interview report).
A $21 million payout didn’t end the questions about Ricciardo’s form. It reset them: the same driving style that won at Monza couldn’t extract performance from a car that never matched his preferences.
The trade-off: Ricciardo left a proven top team for a bigger salary and a fresh challenge. The results showed that a driver’s best years depend as much on chassis fit as on raw pace.
Are Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen friends?
They were Red Bull teammates before Ricciardo left for Renault at the end of 2018, and the relationship was competitive on track but friendly off it. Yahoo Sports reported that Ricciardo felt grateful as the Red Bull chapter closed (Yahoo Sports’ F1 coverage).
Who is Lando Norris’ closest friend in F1?
- Norris has described Ricciardo as a mentor and a close friend (Formula Daily’s Ricciardo profile).
- The two were teammates at McLaren, and Ricciardo’s paddock presence remains part of that dynamic.
If Ricciardo returns to the paddock in any formal role, watch how close he stays with Verstappen and Norris. His real influence may be as a friend and mentor rather than a rival.
The catch: friendships between teammates rarely survive a title fight. Ricciardo and Verstappen’s bond endured because they stopped racing each other every weekend.
Has Daniel Ricciardo won a F1 Championship?
No. His best championship finishes were third in 2014 and 2016—both in Red Bull machinery, per GPFans’ F1 driver profile.
Which F1 driver has not won a race?
- Ricciardo doesn’t belong in that group: he has 8 career wins (GPFans’ F1 driver profile).
- His legacy is defined by race wins rather than a title, which separates him from drivers who never reached the top step.
Who is F1 33?
- Formula 1’s #33 belongs to Max Verstappen, not Ricciardo.
Why this matters: Ricciardo’s story is usually framed around what he didn’t win. The eight wins—especially Monaco and Monza—are a more useful measure of his peak.
Did Daniel Ricciardo come from a wealthy family?
No. He grew up in Perth, Australia, where his father drove trucks and his mother stayed home, according to GPFans’ F1 driver profile. His route into F1 started with family support and sponsors rather than inherited money.
Who was a poor F1 driver?
- Ricciardo’s family was middle class, not poor (GPFans’ F1 driver profile).
- He financed the junior ladder through family help and sponsorship, which is typical for many drivers of his generation.
Daniel Ricciardo net worth
- Estimates place his net worth around $40–50 million (Formula Daily’s Ricciardo profile).
- His biggest reported payday was a $27 million salary at Renault in 2020 (Formula Daily’s Ricciardo profile).
- McLaren reportedly paid roughly $21 million to end his contract early (Read Motorsport’s Ricciardo interview report).
The pattern: Ricciardo’s money came from F1, not the other way around. His background is relatable, but his bank balance is the result of a decade at the top.
Ricciardo’s career timeline
One career, three distinct acts—junior hopeful, top-team winner, and post-driver ambassador. The dates below consolidate reporting from GPFans’ F1 driver profile, Formula Daily’s Ricciardo profile, and Motorsport.com Australia’s F1 desk.
| Period | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2011 | F1 debut with HRT |
| 2014 | Moves to Red Bull; wins first race in Canada |
| 2018 | Wins Monaco Grand Prix |
| 2019–2020 | Drives for Renault; reported $27M salary in 2020 |
| 2021 | Moves to McLaren; wins Italian Grand Prix |
| 2023 | Joins RB (Visa Cash App) as reserve, later returns to grid |
| 2024 | Last F1 race in Singapore; released by RB |
| 2025–2026 | Reported formal retirement from racing; ambassador work with Ford |
The implication: Ricciardo’s exit from the grid wasn’t one moment but a steady handover, and 2026 is the first full year of the post-driver era.
Confirmed facts and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Ricciardo’s last F1 start was the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix (Yahoo Sports’ F1 coverage).
- He has no contract for the 2026 F1 season (GPFans’ Austin report).
- He works as a global ambassador for Ford Racing (Motorsport.com Australia’s F1 desk).
What’s unclear
- Whether he has fully retired from motorsport: two 2026 reports put the date at September 2025, but the details are not officially confirmed (Read Motorsport’s Ricciardo interview report; Formula Daily’s Ricciardo profile).
- His exact net worth: estimates range from $40 million to $50 million (Formula Daily’s Ricciardo profile).
- Whether a return to F1 is realistic: he hasn’t ruled it out, but no seat exists (GPFans’ Austin report).
- The private side of his relationship with Verstappen’s circle: no reliable reporting covers it.
The distinction matters: Ricciardo’s last F1 start is solid, but any precise 2025 retirement date is a report, not a record.
What they said
The people closest to Ricciardo’s career have framed his exit in very different ways.
“It’s gone. What do I do now?”Daniel Ricciardo, in a March 2026 interview with The New York Times
“The split was a mutual decision after performance issues.”Zak Brown, McLaren CEO
“Ricciardo is a mentor and a close friend.”Lando Norris
Ricciardo’s value in 2026 is no longer measured in lap times. He’s built a second career around Ford, Enchanté, and a karting series that keeps his name attached to the next generation. For Ricciardo, the choice is clear: keep building the ambassador and brand portfolio, or chase a comeback that may never materialize.
Frequently asked questions
Is Daniel Ricciardo still racing in F1?
No. His last F1 start was the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix (Yahoo Sports’ F1 coverage), and he was replaced by Liam Lawson for the rest of the season. In 2026 coverage, he’s described as retired from the grid (GPFans’ Austin report).
What is Daniel Ricciardo doing in 2026?
He’s a global ambassador for Ford Racing (Motorsport.com Australia’s F1 desk), runs the Enchanté lifestyle brand, and is linked to the Daniel Ricciardo Series karting program (Formula Daily’s Ricciardo profile). He also planned an Austin pop-up with Ford and Enchanté during the 2026 United States Grand Prix weekend (Motorsport.com Australia’s F1 desk).
Why did McLaren let Ricciardo go?
His McLaren stint delivered one win—Monza 2021—despite high expectations (GPFans’ F1 driver profile). McLaren reportedly paid around $21 million to end the deal early, and Ricciardo later admitted the car’s driving style didn’t suit him (Read Motorsport’s Ricciardo interview report).
How many F1 races has Daniel Ricciardo won?
He won 8 Grands Prix (GPFans’ F1 driver profile), including Monaco 2018 and the 2021 Italian Grand Prix with McLaren.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth?
Estimates put it at $40–50 million, helped by a reported $27 million salary at Renault in 2020 (Formula Daily’s Ricciardo profile) and a reported $21 million McLaren payout (Read Motorsport’s Ricciardo interview report).
Who is Daniel Ricciardo’s wife?
Ricciardo keeps his private life out of the spotlight. No verified public record in our research names a wife, so claims about his marriage are unconfirmed.
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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.