Few drivers made losing look as fun as Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian spent 14 seasons in Formula 1, won eight Grands Prix (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)), turned a post-race sip from a racing boot into a cult ritual, and now faces life after retirement.
Age: 35 (born July 1, 1989) ·
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) ·
F1 Wins: 8 Grands Prix (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)) ·
F1 Teams: 6 (Red Bull, McLaren, Renault, AlphaTauri, Toro Rosso, HRT) ·
Highest Salary: $27 million (Forbes (business magazine)) ·
Retirement: End of 2024 season
Quick snapshot
- 8 Grand Prix wins and 32 podiums (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work))
- Won races for both Red Bull and McLaren (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
- Retired after the 2024 season (Racer (motorsport outlet))
- His exact net worth in 2025, with estimates ranging from $20 million to $50 million
- His current relationship status, which he keeps private
- Whether his ambassador role leads to a larger media or management career
- Final start: 2024 Singapore Grand Prix (Racer (motorsport outlet))
- Replaced by Liam Lawson after Singapore (Formula 1 (official site))
- Global F1 ambassador role and media appearances
- Growing Enchanté, his rosé wine brand
- A quieter life in Perth with surfing, soccer, and classic cars
Eight facts, one pattern: Ricciardo’s career is defined by wins and podiums at the sport’s most demanding tracks.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Daniel Ricciardo |
| Born | July 1, 1989 (Perth, Australia) (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)) |
| Age | 35 |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)) |
| F1 Teams | 6 (Red Bull, McLaren, Renault, AlphaTauri, Toro Rosso, HRT) (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)) |
| F1 Wins | 8 (Formula 1 (official site)) |
| Podiums | 32 (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)) |
| Retirement | End of 2024 F1 season (Racer (motorsport outlet)) |
Who is Daniel Ricciardo?
Daniel Ricciardo is an Australian former Formula 1 driver who became the sport’s most recognizable personality during his 14 seasons on the grid. Born in Perth on July 1, 1989 (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)), he built a reputation on fearless overtakes, a perpetual smile, and the “shoey” — drinking champagne from his racing boot (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
How old is Daniel Ricciardo?
- 35 years old (born July 1, 1989)
- One of the older drivers on the grid when he left in 2024
Ricciardo was 35 when he left the grid at the end of the 2024 season, and he turned 36 on July 1, 2025 (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)). The age alone doesn’t explain his retirement; the loss of a competitive seat does.
How tall is Daniel Ricciardo?
- 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
- Taller than several champions of his era, yet quick enough to out-brake most of them
Ricciardo is listed at 178 cm (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)). His height mattered in a sport where cockpit space is tight, but it clearly didn’t cost him speed.
The implication: Ricciardo’s longevity and personality made him a rare crossover figure — a driver fans followed even when his results fell off.
Has Daniel Ricciardo retired from F1?
Yes. Ricciardo’s final Grand Prix was the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix (Racer (motorsport outlet)). Racing Bulls replaced him with Liam Lawson for the rest of the season (Formula 1 (official site)), and in September 2025 he confirmed he was done with racing (Racer (motorsport outlet)).
Why did Daniel Ricciardo retire from F1?
- Lost his seat at Racing Bulls after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix
- Spent a year on the sidelines before making the retirement official
- Confirmed in September 2025: “My racing days are behind me”
Ricciardo did not announce his retirement while he still had a drive. He was replaced by Liam Lawson after Singapore (Formula 1 (official site)), spent 2025 away from a race seat, and then told Racer (motorsport outlet) he was done.
What is Daniel Ricciardo doing after F1?
- Stepped into a global ambassador role with Formula 1
- Promotes Enchanté, his rosé wine brand (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
- Keeps a visible media presence as a podcast guest and fan favorite
Ricciardo has said he wants to stay close to the sport, and the ambassador role gives him a route back to the paddock without a steering wheel. His wine brand, Enchanté, gives him a second act that doesn’t depend on lap times.
The pattern: Ricciardo’s exit was gradual — losing the seat, watching from the outside, then making it final. That delay suggests the decision wasn’t easy.
Did Daniel Ricciardo drive for Red Bull?
For the first part of his career, yes. Ricciardo drove for Red Bull from 2014 to 2018 (Forbes (business magazine)), becoming a regular race winner before leaving for Renault. He later returned to the Red Bull family in 2023, driving for AlphaTauri, which was renamed Racing Bulls the following season.
What teams did Daniel Ricciardo race for?
- HRT (2011)
- Toro Rosso (2012–2013)
- Red Bull (2014–2018)
- Renault (2019–2020)
- McLaren (2021–2022)
- AlphaTauri / Racing Bulls (2023–2024)
That’s six different teams across 14 seasons (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)). Few drivers switch teams that often and still keep the public on their side.
How many F1 races did Daniel Ricciardo win?
- 8 Grand Prix victories
- 32 podium finishes
- Wins for both Red Bull and McLaren
Ricciardo’s eight wins include a famous victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, where he delivered McLaren’s first win in years (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)). His 32 podiums put him among the most consistent winners of his generation (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)).
The trade-off: Ricciardo left a front-running Red Bull in 2018 for a bigger role at Renault, a move that reset his career arc and ultimately cost him his winning seat.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth?
Ricciardo’s net worth is less documented than his salary, but the numbers that do exist are large. Forbes estimated his peak Formula 1 salary at $27 million for the 2020 season at Renault (Forbes (business magazine)). Public estimates for his current net worth range between $20 million and $50 million, swollen by years of top-team pay and endorsement deals with brands like New Balance and Carlsberg.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s salary?
- $27 million estimated salary at Renault in 2020 (Forbes (business magazine))
- Multiyear contract signed with McLaren in May 2020
Formula 1 salaries are not public, but Forbes’ profile puts his earnings among the sport’s top earners at his peak. His move to McLaren was agreed in May 2020 under a multiyear contract.
Ricciardo’s marketability outlasted his winning form. Endorsement income and media appearances kept him near the top of the sport’s earners even when his results didn’t cooperate.
The implication: Ricciardo’s wealth was built as much on personality as on pace; the shoey and the smile made him one of the sport’s most marketable figures.
Is Daniel Ricciardo on Drive to Survive?
Yes. Ricciardo became one of the faces of Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)), a series that turned him into a global celebrity. His one-liners and the shoey ritual made him essential viewing even in seasons when his cars were uncompetitive.
What is Enchanté Daniel Ricciardo?
- Enchanté is Ricciardo’s own rosé wine brand
- A business venture that plays on his French-inspired nickname and wine-loving image
Enchanté is one of the clearer signs that Ricciardo planned for life after F1. The brand gives him a product to promote long after the racing stops (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
Drive to Survive made Ricciardo a household name, but it also raised expectations that his results couldn’t always match. When the winning stopped, the show kept the fame alive.
Why this matters: Drive to Survive gave Ricciardo a second career as a television personality, which is why his retirement won’t remove him from public view.
Daniel Ricciardo’s career timeline
A quick walk through the moments that defined an unusually long career.
- 2011: F1 debut with HRT at Silverstone. (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
- 2014: Joins Red Bull Racing; first win at the Canadian Grand Prix. (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work))
- 2018: Leaves Red Bull for Renault; wins the Monaco Grand Prix. (Forbes (business magazine))
- 2021: Moves to McLaren; wins the Italian Grand Prix, ending McLaren’s win drought. (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work))
- 2023: Returns to the Red Bull family, driving for AlphaTauri. (Racer (motorsport outlet))
- 2024: Replaced by Liam Lawson after Singapore; later announces retirement. (Formula 1 (official site))
- 2025: Confirms full retirement in September. (Racer (motorsport outlet))
Compiled from Formula 1, Racer, and Encyclopaedia Britannica. The pattern is clear: Ricciardo’s career had two peaks — Red Bull and that one glorious McLaren Sunday — with a long, frustrating slog in between.
What’s confirmed vs. what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Ricciardo retired from Formula 1 at the end of the 2024 season (Racer (motorsport outlet))
- He won 8 Grands Prix and stood on the podium 32 times (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work))
- He raced for six different Formula 1 teams (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
What’s unclear
- His exact current net worth in 2025
- His current relationship status
- Whether the ambassador role will lead to a management or media career
- How far the Enchanté wine brand can scale beyond his personal fan base
The split is telling: the racing record is solid and well-documented, while the post-retirement picture is still being written.
In his own words
“My racing days are behind me.”
— Daniel Ricciardo, Racer (motorsport outlet)
“Ricciardo’s peak salary reached an estimated $27 million per year at Renault.”
— Forbes analysis, Forbes (business magazine)
The first quote closes the racing chapter. The second explains why he could afford to step away with a smile.
Ricciardo’s retirement leaves a gap that stats alone don’t measure: eight Grand Prix wins, a smile that carried Netflix’s Drive to Survive, and a shoe-based victory ritual that became a global meme. For F1’s broadcast partners, the catch is straightforward — replacing a driver who made the sport fun matters as much as replacing race winners.
Frequently asked questions
What does Daniel Ricciardo do now?
He is a global ambassador for Formula 1 and promotes his rosé wine brand Enchanté, alongside regular media and podcast appearances.
Is Daniel Ricciardo married?
There is no public record of a marriage. Ricciardo keeps his personal life private, so his current relationship status remains unclear.
How many podiums does Daniel Ricciardo have?
He finished on the podium 32 times in Formula 1 (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)).
What car does Daniel Ricciardo drive?
His public profile mentions a love of classic cars and a passion for driving, though he hasn’t published a full list of everything in his garage.
Could Daniel Ricciardo return to F1?
Unlikely. In September 2025 he said his racing days are behind him (Racer (motorsport outlet)).
Where is Daniel Ricciardo from?
He was born in Perth, Australia, on July 1, 1989 (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)).
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s best race?
Many fans point to the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, where he delivered McLaren its first win in years (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)). His 2018 Monaco win is the other standard answer.
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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.