Few Formula 1 drivers have paired race-day daring with a grin quite like Daniel Ricciardo. Since debuting with HRT in 2011, the Australian known as the Honey Badger has collected eight Grand Prix wins — including a famous Monza victory for McLaren in 2021 (UNSW’s student publication Arc) — yet he enters 2024 without a race seat.
Full name: Daniel Joseph Ricciardo · Born: 1 July 1989 · Nationality: Australian · F1 race wins: 8 · Highest championship finish: 3rd (2014, 2016) · 2023 team: Red Bull Racing (reserve driver)
Quick snapshot
- Born in Perth, Australia, on 1 July 1989 (OldRacingCars.com’s driver archive)
- Eight Formula 1 race wins, the last at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix (StatsF1’s race database)
- Highest championship finish: 3rd in 2014 and 2016 (Encyclopaedia Britannica’s biography)
- Exact net worth — no official figure exists; media estimates cluster around $80 million
- Whether the McLaren slump (2021–2022) was a car problem or something longer term
- Whether a full-time race seat returns in 2025
- 2014: first F1 win, at the Canadian Grand Prix (StatsF1’s race database)
- 2021: eighth and most recent win, at Monza (StatsF1’s race database)
- 2023: returns to Red Bull as reserve driver (Wikipedia’s career summary)
- Reserve role continues through 2024
- No full-time race seat secured for 2025 yet
- Simulator work and tyre testing keep him race-ready
Six rows, one pattern: the ledger shows a driver whose peak seasons came whenever the machinery matched his talent.
| Field | Detail | Key reference |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel Joseph Ricciardo | Encyclopaedia Britannica’s biography |
| Born | 1 July 1989, Perth, Australia | OldRacingCars.com’s driver archive |
| F1 debut | 2011 British Grand Prix (HRT) | UNSW’s student publication Arc |
| First F1 win | 2014 Canadian Grand Prix | McLaren Racing’s official profile |
| Highest championship finish | 3rd (2014, 2016) | SpeedSport Magazine’s driver stats |
| Nickname | Honey Badger | Encyclopaedia Britannica’s biography |
Who is Daniel Ricciardo?
How old is Daniel Ricciardo?
- Born: 1 July 1989
- Age in 2024: 35
Ricciardo’s full name is Daniel Joseph Ricciardo (Encyclopaedia Britannica’s biography). He grew up in Perth, Western Australia — about as far from Formula 1’s European heartland as a driver can start — and fans know him as the Honey Badger (Encyclopaedia Britannica’s biography), a nickname that captures his aggressive, no-surrender driving style.
Where was Daniel Ricciardo born?
- City: Perth
- State: Western Australia
- Country: Australia
Ricciardo moved to Europe in 2007 to race Formula Renault 2.0 Italy, then won the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Championship in 2008 and the British Formula 3 championship in 2009 (McLaren Racing’s official profile). That British F3 title earned him a Red Bull young-driver test at Jerez, and he served as Toro Rosso’s test and reserve driver in 2010. He raced full-time for Toro Rosso in 2012 and 2013 (Wikipedia’s career summary), before Red Bull promoted him for 2014.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s nationality?
- Nationality: Australian
- Represents: Australia in Formula 1
Ricciardo’s route to F1 was a fast climb through Europe’s junior formulas, but his identity stayed firmly Australian — a contrast that made him stand out in a paddock full of European prodigies.
Has Daniel Ricciardo won an F1 championship?
The short answer is no. Ricciardo has never won the Formula 1 drivers’ championship — but the fuller answer helps explain why his name keeps coming up in comeback conversations.
How many F1 wins does Daniel Ricciardo have?
- 8 Grand Prix wins and 32 podiums (Formula1.com’s official driver profile)
- Signature wins: 2018 Monaco Grand Prix and 2021 Italian Grand Prix (Formula1.com’s official driver profile)
His breakthrough season was 2014: he won three races — Canada, Hungary and Belgium — and finished third in the championship (StatsF1’s race database).
Red Bull handed Ricciardo a race-winning car in 2014 and he answered with three wins. The trade-off: he left for Renault at the end of 2018, and his later seasons never had the same machinery.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s best season?
- 2014: three wins and a 3rd-place championship finish (SpeedSport Magazine’s driver stats)
The 2016 season repeated the 3rd-place result. He also finished fifth in 2017 and 2020, and sixth in 2018 (SpeedSport Magazine’s driver stats).
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s highest championship finish?
- 3rd place, achieved twice — in 2014 and 2016
Ricciardo delivered wins in several different teams and regulations, but a genuine title fight never materialized.
Which team did Daniel Ricciardo drive for in 2023?
Ricciardo spent 2023 as a reserve driver for Red Bull Racing (Wikipedia’s career summary), a step back from the full-time seat he had held since 2012.
Which teams has Daniel Ricciardo driven for?
- HRT (2011)
- Toro Rosso (2012–2013)
- Red Bull Racing (2014–2018)
- Renault (2019–2020)
- McLaren (2021–2022)
- Red Bull Racing — reserve (2023–present)
That makes five race teams across more than a decade of full-time racing, plus the return to Red Bull in a development role (UNSW’s student publication Arc).
Why did Daniel Ricciardo leave Red Bull?
- Announced the move to Renault for 2019 at the end of the 2018 season (Wikipedia’s career summary)
The Renault gamble was about status as much as results: he walked away from a race-winning Red Bull seat to become the clear team leader at a factory outfit. The move gave him the leadership role he wanted, but the results never matched the Red Bull years.
When did Daniel Ricciardo retire?
- He hasn’t — no retirement announcement has ever been made
- Last full-time F1 race seat: 2022 with McLaren
Leaving one team at the end of a contract and taking a reserve role is not the same as retiring. Ricciardo chose to stay inside the Red Bull system, which keeps a 2025 return realistic.
The pattern: every team change since 2018 has been a bet on his own talent — leaving Red Bull for Renault, then Renault for McLaren, then back to Red Bull. The trade-off is that stability wins championships, and Ricciardo has always chosen the harder road.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth?
Ricciardo has never published his finances, so any net worth figure is an estimate. The figure most often repeated in media profiles is around $80 million, built up over more than a decade of top-tier F1 salaries. Forbes reported his salary at Renault in 2020 at approximately $27 million.
Net worth figures for Ricciardo are third-party estimates — he has never disclosed official financial details, so treat them as ballpark figures.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s salary?
- Reported 2020 Renault salary: approximately $27 million (Forbes estimate)
- Current reserve role: salary not publicly disclosed
His earning peak likely came during those factory contracts, when team pay and endorsements combined to make him one of the sport’s best-known commercial figures.
Is Daniel Ricciardo married?
- Marital status: not married
- Long-term relationship: with Heidi Berger since around 2019
Ricciardo keeps his personal life largely out of the spotlight. He has been in a relationship with Heidi Berger since around 2019, but neither has made an official announcement.
Who is Daniel Ricciardo’s girlfriend?
- Heidi Berger — linked with Ricciardo since around 2019
Ricciardo’s earning years tracked his front-running contracts, and without official figures, net worth headlines should always be read as one journalist’s arithmetic.
Is Daniel Ricciardo retired?
No. Ricciardo has not announced a retirement, and he remains on Red Bull Racing’s books as a reserve driver for 2024 (Formula1.com’s official driver profile).
Is Daniel Ricciardo returning to F1 in 2024?
- 2024: no full-time race seat confirmed
- 2025: openly pursuing a race seat
Ricciardo has kept that 2025 target public, even while his day job involves the simulator rather than a starting grid.
Why did Daniel Ricciardo step back from racing?
- 2022: difficult final season with McLaren
- 2023: sabbatical year as Red Bull reserve driver
His two seasons at McLaren produced one win — the 2021 Italian Grand Prix — and a lot of frustration. When the team and driver parted ways at the end of 2022, Red Bull offered him a familiar home while he weighed his options.
What is Daniel Ricciardo doing now?
- Reserve and development driver for Red Bull Racing
- Regular simulator work plus F1 tyre test appearances (Wikipedia’s career summary)
In practice, that means he attends races as Red Bull’s backup, works development days, and keeps his name in the conversation.
The reserve role keeps Ricciardo in the paddock, but it does not guarantee a race seat. For Ricciardo, the 2025 window depends on a driver change at Red Bull — or a vacancy at another team that believes he still has the pace.
Ricciardo’s sabbatical was always a reset rather than a farewell, and the 2025 driver market will decide whether it turns into a comeback.
Daniel Ricciardo’s career timeline
The milestones below are pulled from the team records, archives, and databases cited throughout this profile.
- Born in Perth, Australia (OldRacingCars.com’s driver archive)
- Moves to Europe for Formula Renault 2.0 Italy (McLaren Racing’s official profile)
- Wins Formula Renault 2.0 West European Championship (McLaren Racing’s official profile)
- Wins British Formula 3 championship (McLaren Racing’s official profile)
- F1 debut with HRT at the British Grand Prix (UNSW’s student publication Arc)
- Races full-time for Toro Rosso (Encyclopaedia Britannica’s biography)
- First F1 win at the Canadian Grand Prix; finishes 3rd in the championship (StatsF1’s race database)
- Wins the Monaco Grand Prix; announces a move to Renault (StatsF1’s race database)
- Wins the Italian Grand Prix with McLaren — his eighth and most recent win (Formula1.com’s official driver profile)
- Leaves McLaren at the end of the season (Formula1.com’s official driver profile)
- Returns to Red Bull as reserve driver (Wikipedia’s career summary)
- Continues as reserve; no race seat secured yet (Formula1.com’s official driver profile)
Every major shift in Ricciardo’s career has come from the same calculation: he keeps chasing a car that can win races, even when the safer choice is to stay put.
What’s confirmed — and what isn’t
Ricciardo’s story has two layers: the verified record, and the speculation that fills the gaps.
Confirmed facts
- Eight F1 wins, including the 2021 Italian Grand Prix
- Born in Perth on 1 July 1989; Australian
- Drove for five F1 race teams between 2011 and 2022
- Red Bull reserve driver in 2023 and 2024
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth — media estimates hover around $80 million
- Whether he will secure a full-time race seat for 2025
- Full details of his relationship with Heidi Berger, which has never been formally announced
- How much of his McLaren slump was the car versus the driver
- What his salary as a reserve driver actually is
The balance matters: the confirmed list is short, the unclear list is longer, and anyone telling you Ricciardo’s comeback is guaranteed is reading tea leaves, not reports.
Voices on Ricciardo’s career
Two statements frame the contradiction at the heart of his story: the joy of winning, and the sober math of the record books.
This is the best day of my life.
Daniel Ricciardo, after winning the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix
Ricciardo is regarded as one of the most talented drivers of his generation.
Formula1.com’s official driver profile
The first quote captures why fans love him; the second captures why the title question still follows him around.
Summary
Ricciardo’s career is a long negotiation between talent and timing: he won eight Grands Prix, finished third in the championship twice, and then spent his mid-30s waiting for a car that matches his ambitions. For Red Bull, the decision is straightforward: promote him if a seat opens in 2025, or risk watching another team benefit from his comeback.
Frequently asked questions
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s nickname?
Ricciardo is universally known as the Honey Badger, a nickname that fits his aggressive overtaking style.
How many podiums does Daniel Ricciardo have?
32 career podiums in Formula 1.
Where did Daniel Ricciardo make his F1 debut?
At the 2011 British Grand Prix, driving for HRT.
What was Daniel Ricciardo’s first F1 win?
The 2014 Canadian Grand Prix, his first of three wins that season.
Why does Daniel Ricciardo drink champagne from his shoe?
The ‘shoey’ — drinking champagne from a racing boot — became his signature celebration and one of F1’s most recognisable podium rituals.
Is Daniel Ricciardo single?
No. He has been in a relationship with Heidi Berger since around 2019, though the couple keeps details private.
When did Daniel Ricciardo move to Europe to race?
In 2007, when he joined the Formula Renault 2.0 Italy series.
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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.