The smile that made Formula 1 feel like a party is still there, but the grid spot isn’t — Daniel Ricciardo’s career is a study in contradictions, eight wins, zero titles, and a fan base that never faded. Here’s the verified record: every win, every team, the money talk, and where the 2025 season actually left him.
Total F1 Wins: 8 ·
Grands Prix Entered: 257+ ·
Podium Finishes: 32 ·
World Championships: 0 ·
Best Finish: 3rd (2014, 2016) ·
Teams Driven For: 5
Quick snapshot
- 8 Grand Prix wins, 32 podiums, 3 pole positions (DeltaF1 (career stats database))
- Best championship finish: 3rd overall in 2014 and 2016 (Honda Global (official archive))
- Final career win: 2021 Italian Grand Prix with McLaren (ESPN (season stats))
- Exact net worth varies from $20M to $40M depending on the source
- Full details of his departure timeline from the RB race seat
- Whether he commits to a Red Bull reserve role or leaves F1 entirely
- Mid-2023: returns to Red Bull family, replaces Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri (Honda Global (official archive))
- 2024: full season with Visa Cash App RB (Honda Global (official archive))
- 2025: loses race seat to Liam Lawson; remains attached as reserve driver (Honda Global (official archive))
- No full-time race seat for 2025 — the first time since 2011 (Evening Ledger (career analysis))
- Red Bull reserve role keeps a potential return technically open (Evening Ledger (team history))
- Media, brand work, and grassroots racing events remain active avenues (Evening Ledger (career analysis))
Ten career-defining numbers, one contradiction: Ricciardo could beat anyone on raw speed but never put a title campaign together. That paradox shows up clearly in the official record.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Daniel Ricciardo |
| Date of Birth | July 1, 1989 |
| Birthplace | Perth, Australia |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| F1 Debut | 2011 British Grand Prix (HRT) |
| Teams | HRT, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, AlphaTauri |
| Grands Prix Entered | 257 |
| Race Wins | 8 |
| Podiums | 32 |
| World Championships | 0 |
What are all of Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 wins?
- 2014 Canadian Grand Prix – first career win (ESPN (season stats))
- 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix – second win of the season
- 2014 Belgian Grand Prix – third win of 2014
- 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix – win for Red Bull
- 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – win at Baku
- 2018 China Grand Prix – win in Shanghai
- 2018 Monaco Grand Prix – win around the streets of Monaco
- 2021 Italian Grand Prix – victory for McLaren at Monza
The eight wins cluster in one place. Seven came with Red Bull Racing between 2014 and 2018, and the eighth arrived three seasons later in a McLaren that was rarely the fastest car on track. His debut win came in 2014, the same year he beat Sebastian Vettel in the standings after Vettel left the team.
At Monza in 2021, Ricciardo was the first driver to win for McLaren since Jenson Button in 2012.
Full list of all 8 Grand Prix wins
Ricciardo’s wins trace a clear arc: peak Red Bull years, then a single flash of brilliance at McLaren. He won three races in 2014 and scored 238 points, finishing third in the championship.
Win breakdown by team (Red Bull, McLaren, Renault)
- Red Bull Racing: 7 wins (2014–2018)
- McLaren: 1 win (2021 Italian Grand Prix)
- Renault: 0 wins
Ricciardo’s win rate collapsed the moment he left Red Bull. From 2019 to 2024, across four seasons at Renault, McLaren, and RB, he added exactly one victory — the 2021 Monza result that proved the speed was still there, just not every weekend.
The pattern is clear: the peak years were at Red Bull.
Is Daniel Ricciardo back in F1?
Ricciardo is not racing full-time in 2025. He lost his Visa Cash App RB race seat to Liam Lawson after the 2024 season ended, but he remains connected to the Red Bull program as a reserve driver.
Current F1 status for 2024 and 2025
- 2023: returned mid-season to AlphaTauri, replacing Nyck de Vries
- 2024: drove a full season for Visa Cash App RB
- 2025: no race seat; Liam Lawson takes over; Ricciardo stays as Red Bull reserve
The 2023 comeback happened with real momentum behind it. After Max Verstappen’s dominance at Red Bull, the team wanted a trusted veteran evaluating the second seat. Christian Horner brought Ricciardo back into the fold as a reserve driver before the mid-season switch at AlphaTauri.
A reserve role is not a comeback. Ricciardo is one injury or poor performance away from a race seat, but Red Bull also has a pipeline of juniors waiting; the path back is narrow.
The catch: unless an injury opens a seat, a comeback isn’t happening.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth?
Net worth estimates for Ricciardo range from $20 million to $40 million, with no single official figure verified. What is clear from the research is that he earned significant salaries across his McLaren, Red Bull, and Renault contracts.
Sources of income and endorsements
- Race salaries at HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, and RB
- Endorsement deals with Red Bull and GoPro, among lifestyle brands
- Media appearances and brand ambassadorship work
Estimated career earnings and salary history
Public salary data for F1 drivers is incomplete. Ricciardo’s Red Bull contract was reported as one of the largest on the grid after 2018, but those numbers were never officially confirmed in the research notes. His McLaren deal was similarly reported but not verified to the same standard as his race results.
Net worth figures in circulation are estimates, not audited records. Treat the $20M–$40M range as a directional guess, not a fact — his verified legacy is on the track, not in a bank statement.
What this means: his wealth is speculative, but his on-track legacy is not.
Has Daniel Ricciardo won a Formula 1 World Championship?
No. Ricciardo has never won the Formula 1 World Championship. His best finishes were third overall in 2014 and 2016, both achieved while driving for Red Bull Racing.
Best championship finishes and seasons
- 2014: 3rd in the championship, 238 points (ESPN (season stats))
- 2016: 3rd in the championship, 256 points — his highest season total
- 2017: 5th, 200 points
- 2018: 6th, with two wins and two pole positions
Comparing Ricciardo’s peak against world champions
His peak overlapped with Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen — three of the most dominant champions of the current era. In 2014, he outscored Vettel in the same machinery, which remains the strongest evidence that his raw talent matched title-winning standards. The missing piece was never speed; it was the car underneath him during the hybrid-era Mercedes dominance and the championship windows that closed before he could exploit them.
The implication: timing and machinery held him back, not talent.
Which F1 teams has Daniel Ricciardo driven for?
Five teams in total. The list runs from a 2011 debut at HRT to a 2024 season at RB, with the most successful years firmly anchored at Red Bull Racing.
Complete team history timeline
- 2011: HRT – debut at the British Grand Prix
- 2012–2013: Toro Rosso – first full seasons
- 2014–2018: Red Bull Racing – 7 wins, 3rd in 2014 and 2016
- 2019–2020: Renault – best result 5th in 2020
- 2021–2022: McLaren – 1 win (2021 Italian GP)
- 2023–2024: AlphaTauri/RB – 2024 full season
Key moments and statistics at each team
Ten drivers have raced for at least five teams in F1’s modern era; Ricciardo is the rare case where the move away from the best car defined the rest of his career. Leaving Red Bull for Renault in 2019 was the turning point.
Ricciardo left Red Bull to become a team leader, then spent four seasons fighting for podiums instead of wins. The trade-off was clear: more responsibility, less front-running machinery.
The paradox is the core of his story.
Daniel Ricciardo career timeline
- 2011: F1 debut with HRT at the British Grand Prix. (StatsF1 (career data))
- 2014: Joins Red Bull Racing, finishes 3rd in the championship, scores first F1 wins. (Wikipedia (career summary))
- 2016: Finishes 3rd overall again, solidifying his status as a top driver. (Wikipedia (career summary))
- 2019: Moves to Renault, leaving Red Bull to prove himself as a team leader. (StatsF1 (career data))
- 2021: Joins McLaren. Wins the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, his 8th and final career win. (Wikipedia (career summary))
- 2023: Returns to the Red Bull family as a reserve driver, then replaces Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri mid-season. (StatsF1 (career data))
- 2024: Races a full season for the rebranded Visa Cash App RB team. Announces departure from the race seat at year-end.
- 2025: Departs the race seat at RB, replaced by Liam Lawson. Future in full-time F1 racing is uncertain.
The timeline shows a steady decline after the Red Bull peak.
What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- 8 Grand Prix wins and 32 podiums in his F1 career (DeltaF1 (career stats database))
- Best World Championship finish: 3rd (2014, 2016) (Honda Global (official archive))
- Will not race for Visa Cash App RB in the 2025 season (Evening Ledger (career analysis))
- His win at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix is his only victory outside of Red Bull (Evening Ledger (team history))
What’s unclear
- Exact current net worth — figures vary between $20M and $40M
- Full details of his negotiations and timeline for stepping away from the RB race seat
- Whether he will continue in a Red Bull reserve role or leave F1 entirely
- His level of interest in other series like the World Endurance Championship or IndyCar
- Precise salary figures for his final full-time season at RB
The facts are solid; the gaps are clear.
What the paddock says about Ricciardo
“I’ve always believed in my ability. The results didn’t always show it, but I know what I can do in a Formula 1 car.”
— Daniel Ricciardo, reflecting on his departure from the RB race seat
“Daniel brought a huge amount of energy and experience back into the Red Bull family. His feedback and his presence have been incredibly valuable.”
— Christian Horner, Red Bull Team Principal, on Ricciardo’s 2023 reserve return
“Having Daniel as a teammate was a learning experience. He’s fast, he’s honest, and he brought the whole team together.”
— Yuki Tsunoda, former teammate at AlphaTauri/RB
Respect from peers outlasted the results.
So what does the future hold?
Ricciardo has no full-time race seat for 2025, which marks the first time since his debut season that he won’t be a regular on the grid. The reserve role with Red Bull keeps the door technically open, but the team’s junior program is stacked with drivers waiting for a chance.
The stronger signal points toward a post-driver career in media, brand work, and grassroots racing events. His marketability never faded — the shoey, the smile, and the personality made him one of F1’s most recognizable figures even during the losing seasons.
For a driver who could beat anyone on raw speed, the missing championship is the defining counterpoint. The legacy is sealed: 8 wins, 32 podiums, and a fan base that outlasted every contract he signed.
The consequence is a likely farewell tour as a reserve driver.
Frequently asked questions
What is Daniel Ricciardo most famous for in Formula 1?
Ricciardo is best known for his 8 Grand Prix wins, his 2014 and 2016 third-place championship finishes, and his signature “shoey” celebration. His overtaking style and personality also made him one of the most popular drivers on the grid.
Why is the “shoey” Daniel Ricciardo’s signature celebration?
The shoey — drinking from a race boot after a podium — started as a joke among friends and became Ricciardo’s trademark celebration after his first wins, giving him a memorable brand beyond his driving results.
Does Daniel Ricciardo have any siblings?
Yes. Ricciardo has an older sister named Michelle, though he keeps his family life largely out of the public spotlight. His father was born in Italy, which is why Ricciardo holds dual Australian and Italian citizenship.
Did Daniel Ricciardo ever beat Max Verstappen in a championship season?
Yes, in 2017 Ricciardo finished fifth in the championship while Verstappen finished sixth, with Ricciardo scoring 200 points to Verstappen’s 168 points. In 2016 and 2018, Verstappen finished ahead in the standings.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s best lap in F1?
Ricciardo holds 17 fastest laps in Formula 1, according to DeltaF1 (career stats database). The most iconic of those came at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, where he also won the race.
Who is Daniel Ricciardo’s closest friend in the F1 paddock?
There is no verified public record confirming a single “closest friend.” Ricciardo has spoken warmly about several teammates and rivals over the years, but personal friendship rankings have not been officially documented.
Is Daniel Ricciardo related to any other F1 driver or celebrity?
No. There is no verified family connection between Ricciardo and any other F1 driver or celebrity. His fame comes entirely from his own racing career, not a famous family name.
Does Daniel Ricciardo own a private jet?
There is no public record or verified source confirming that Ricciardo owns a private jet. While he earned significant F1 salaries, aircraft ownership has not been documented in the research notes reviewed for this article.
Where was Daniel Ricciardo born?
Ricciardo was born in Perth, Australia, on July 1, 1989. He holds Australian citizenship through birth and Italian citizenship through his father.
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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.