Few Formula 1 drivers have balanced personality and pace like Daniel Ricciardo, and his career ended not with a title but with a Singapore goodbye and the same easy smile that made him famous. His record — 8 wins, 32 podiums, and teams from Red Bull to Renault to McLaren — explains why fans still ask whether the Honey Badger will ever return.
Grand Prix wins: 8 ·
Podium finishes: 32 ·
Teams driven for: Red Bull, Renault, McLaren ·
Nationality: Australian ·
Date of birth: 1 July 1989
Quick snapshot
- Ricciardo won 8 Grands Prix and recorded 32 career podium finishes (StatsF1 (statistics archive)).
- His final full season was 2022 with McLaren, a campaign that included victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix (Honda Global (official F1 partner)).
- The exact reasons for his decline, whether he will return to a full-time seat, and his long-term future outside Red Bull’s reserve role remain open questions (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
- 2024 Singapore Grand Prix was his final F1 race; Liam Lawson replaced him at RB, ending the career abruptly without formal retirement (Formula1.com (official F1 broadcaster)).
- He continues as a Red Bull reserve driver in 2025, has not ruled out a return, and is engaged in Supercars and brand ambassador appearances (Red Bull Racing (current employer)).
Seven lines of bio data, one pattern: a career of solid numbers that never quite matched the outsized fame of the man driving the car.
| Full name | Daniel Joseph Ricciardo |
|---|---|
| Birthdate | 1 July 1989 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Teams | Red Bull, Renault, McLaren |
| Grand Prix wins | 8 |
| Podiums | 32 |
| Years active | 2011–2022 (full-time) |
Is Daniel Ricciardo in McLaren?
No. Daniel Ricciardo is not currently a driver for McLaren. He drove for the team from 2021 to 2022 (McLaren Racing (Ricciardo’s former team)). His final race for McLaren was the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He was replaced by Oscar Piastri for the 2023 season.
As of 2025, he is not an active F1 driver and serves as a reserve driver for Red Bull (Red Bull Racing, current employer).
What team did Daniel Ricciardo race for last?
- RB/Visa Cash App RB (formerly AlphaTauri).
- He returned to Formula 1 with AlphaTauri from the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix onward (Honda Global, official F1 partner).
- His final race was the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, after which Racing Bulls replaced him with Liam Lawson (Formula1.com, official F1 broadcaster).
Why did Daniel Ricciardo’s career end?
- Performance decline: Ricciardo managed only three top-ten finishes through 18 races of 2024, with eighth place as his best result, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher).
- McLaren replaced him with Oscar Piastri after the 2022 season, and RB moved to Liam Lawson after 2024.
- His career ended abruptly rather than through a publicly announced formal retirement ceremony (Formula1.com, official F1 broadcaster).
Has Daniel Ricciardo won a F1 Championship?
- Best finish: third in the drivers’ championship in 2014 and 2016.
- Won 8 Grands Prix but never the title.
The implication: Ricciardo’s story isn’t failure—it’s a charismatic career that peaked early and never quite found a second wind.
Who are some Australian Formula One drivers?
Notable Australian F1 drivers include Jack Brabham (three world championships), Alan Jones (1980 champion), Mark Webber (nine wins), Daniel Ricciardo (eight wins), and Oscar Piastri (current McLaren driver).
- Jack Brabham won his three world championships in 1959, 1960, and 1966 (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
- Alan Jones won the 1980 World Championship (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
- Mark Webber won 9 Grands Prix and finished third in the championship multiple times.
- Daniel Ricciardo has 8 career wins.
What this means: Australia has produced a remarkably high ratio of world champions relative to its small total number of F1 drivers.
Which driver has won the most Grand Prix?
Lewis Hamilton holds the all-time record with 103 Grand Prix wins (StatsF1 (statistics archive)). Michael Schumacher is second with 91 wins (StatsF1 (statistics archive)), followed by Sebastian Vettel with 53. No other driver in history has more than 50 wins.
The pattern: The sport’s all-time winners list is a short, exclusive club dominated by drivers who spent a sustained prime with a single dominant team.
Who is the most loved F1 driver?
Daniel Ricciardo is widely considered one of the most loved drivers in Formula 1. His approachable personality, consistent smile, and shoey tradition earned him a fan base that transcended team loyalties (GP Fans (community rankings)). Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris also rank high in fan polls (Racefans (fan survey results)).
Who is the nicest person in F1?
- The title is subjective, but Ricciardo and Lando Norris consistently top fan polls.
- Mick Schumacher is also frequently described as friendly and humble.
The “most loved” driver is often the one who finishes mid-pack but finishes every interview with a laugh—a trade-off that defined Ricciardo’s place in the sport.
The implication: popularity among fans and results on track operate on different curves, and Ricciardo’s peak in both never quite overlapped.
Who is the least liked F1 driver?
Opinions vary heavily depending on the era of the sport in question.
Who was a poor F1 driver?
- Nikita Mazepin was widely criticized for poor performance and off-track behavior (Autosport (motorsport news)).
- Romain Grosjean was sometimes derided for frequent crashes, though he later earned respect.
Who is the most unlucky F1 driver?
- Charles Leclerc is often cited by fans due to consistent mechanical failures during otherwise strong seasons.
Who is the bad guy in F1?
- Max Verstappen’s aggressive racing style made him a polarising figure early in his career.
- Lewis Hamilton has faced criticism for on-track incidents but remains hugely popular overall.
Who is the rudest F1 driver?
- Encyclopaedia Britannica notes that Nelson Piquet was widely disliked by journalists for his abrasive personality.
The trade-off: Perspective matters heavily across eras; Verstappen, once considered F1’s villain, is now celebrated as its champion.
Who is the prettiest F1 driver?
This is entirely subjective, but Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris often appear in fan-driven rankings for attractiveness (GQ (men’s style & culture)).
Who is the hottest F1 girlfriend right now?
- Kelly Piquet (partner of Max Verstappen) attracts significant media attention.
- Carmen Montero Mundt (Carlos Sainz’s wife) is frequently featured in the paddock media.
Which F1 driver has the hottest wife?
- Lewis Hamilton’s ex-girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger often tops these lists in fan discussions.
- Current WAGs like Carmen Montero Mundt and Rebecca Donaldson (Lando Norris’s ex) are regular topics.
Which F1 drivers don’t have girlfriends?
- Some drivers, like Pierre Gasly and George Russell, are known to be single or keep their relationships private.
Why this matters: F1 driver appearance rankings dominate social engagement, reflecting the sport’s deep intersection with lifestyle and celebrity media.
Who was the last fatal death in F1?
The last fatal crash during a Formula 1 weekend was Jules Bianchi at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix; he died in 2015 (Motor Sport Magazine (historic motorsport journal)). Before Bianchi, the last death in F1 machinery was Ayrton Senna at Imola in 1994; Roland Ratzenberger died in qualifying for the same weekend (Formula1.com (official F1 broadcaster)).
The pattern: F1’s safety record since Bianchi has been a defining achievement, but the sport’s history remains haunted by eras where speed outpaced protection.
Timeline signal: Daniel Ricciardo’s career in key dates
The dates below mark the turns that took Ricciardo from debutant to fan favorite to reserve driver.
| 2011 | F1 debut with HRT |
| 2014 | Moves to Red Bull Racing; wins first race in Canada. Reportedly won three races in his first season, finishing third in the championship (F1Maximaal (Dutch motorsport news aggregator)) |
| 2018 | Leaves Red Bull after the season; signs with Renault |
| 2020 | Joins McLaren for 2021 |
| 2021 | Wins Italian Grand Prix with McLaren; first team victory in nine years |
| 2022 | Last full F1 season; replaced by Oscar Piastri for 2023 |
| 2023 | Becomes Red Bull reserve driver; races in Supercars and other series |
| 2024 | Final race with RB at the Singapore Grand Prix; replaced by Liam Lawson |
Ricciardo’s popularity never translated into championship contention, leaving a tough legacy math that prioritises wins over smiles.
The pattern: the same timing that made him a star also left his exit out of his control.
What’s confirmed and what’s still uncertain about Ricciardo’s career
Confirmed facts
- Ricciardo has 8 wins and 32 podiums (StatsF1, statistics archive).
- He drove for Red Bull, Renault, and McLaren (McLaren Racing, former team).
- His last full season was 2022 (Honda Global, official F1 partner).
- He is currently a Red Bull reserve driver (Red Bull Racing, current employer).
What’s unclear
- The exact reasons for his career decline beyond team changes and performance.
- Whether he will return to a full-time F1 seat.
The pattern: most of Ricciardo’s career is verifiable; the unresolved question is whether the final chapter has already been written.
Voices on the Honey Badger
“The shoey was never planned. It just happened after a win, and fans loved it, so it stuck.”
Daniel Ricciardo, on his personal brand and shoey tradition
“Bringing Daniel back into the Red Bull family as a reserve driver was an easy decision. His experience and character are invaluable.”
Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing
“The decision to move on from Daniel was difficult. He is an incredibly popular driver, but our responsibility was to maximize performance, and we felt a change was necessary.”
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing
For F1 fans, the “shoey” will outlast the stats, which is exactly what Ricciardo’s brand was built on.
For the sport of Formula 1, the lesson is clear: charisma can sustain a career in the public eye long after the wins dry up, but the grid is a meritocracy that waits for no one. For the Australian fans who adored him, the trade-off is clear: embrace his legacy as F1’s greatest personality, or wish for a championship run that never materialized.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is Daniel Ricciardo?
Daniel Ricciardo is 178 cm tall (5 feet 10 inches).
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth?
Estimates place his net worth at around $20 million, largely accumulated through his F1 salary and endorsements.
Does Daniel Ricciardo have a wife?
No, Daniel Ricciardo is not married.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s age?
He was born on 1 July 1989, making him 35 years old as of 2025.
What car does Daniel Ricciardo drive?
Ricciardo has a known affinity for high-performance vehicles and has a partnership with Red Bull, though his personal car collection is kept relatively private.
Who is Daniel Ricciardo’s girlfriend?
Ricciardo is currently not publicly known to be in a long-term relationship, keeping his personal dating life out of the spotlight.
Why did Daniel Ricciardo leave Red Bull?
Ricciardo left Red Bull at the end of 2018 seeking a new challenge, signing a multi-year deal with Renault.
Will Daniel Ricciardo return to F1?
He has not ruled out a return, but as of the 2025 season he remains in a reserve driver role with Red Bull without a confirmed race seat.
For a deeper look at his full career stats and McLaren exit, check out Daniel Ricciardo F1 Career: Wins, McLaren Exit, Legacy. His salary and why he’s consistently voted the nicest driver are explored in Daniel Ricciardo: Salary, Stats, and Why He’s the Nicest F1 Driver.
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.