Few drivers in Formula 1 have combined raw speed with a personality as magnetic as Daniel Ricciardo’s. This is his path from an 8-time race winner to Red Bull’s reserve driver, plus an estimated net worth of $30 million and what 2025 holds for F1’s Honey Badger.
F1 Race Wins: 8 ·
Podiums: 32 ·
Age: 36 ·
F1 Championships: 0 ·
Estimated Net Worth: $30 million
Quick snapshot
- Ricciardo has 8 Formula 1 race wins (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
- He won his first race at the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix (Formula 1 official driver profile).
- His last victory came at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix with McLaren (McLaren Racing).
- Whether he will return to F1 for the 2026 season (Sky Sports).
- His exact net worth, with estimates around $30 million (Forbes).
- His relationship status beyond being currently single as of 2025 (Wikipedia biography).
- 2014: First F1 win at the Canadian Grand Prix (Red Bull athlete profile).
- 2018: Leaves Red Bull Racing for Renault (Motorsport.com).
- 2023–2024: Returns to Red Bull as a reserve driver (McLaren F1 historical database).
- No confirmed F1 seat for 2026 (RaceFans driver archive).
- He has expressed interest in a comeback but no team deal exists (ESPN).
- 2026 regulation changes could open a window for return (2026 F1 season overview).
Here are 13 key data points about Ricciardo’s career and personal life, one pattern: his success metrics are elite, but his championship count reveals the gap between being a race winner and a title contender.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Daniel Joseph Ricciardo |
| Date of Birth | July 1, 1989 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| F1 Debut | 2011 Australian Grand Prix with HRT |
| First Win | 2014 Canadian Grand Prix |
| Last Win | 2021 Italian Grand Prix |
| Total Races | Over 250 |
| Wins | 8 |
| Podiums | 32 |
| Poles | 3 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Teams | HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren |
| Net Worth | Estimated $30 million |
How many F1 races has Daniel Ricciardo won?
Daniel Ricciardo has won 8 Formula 1 Grands Prix across his career. His first victory came at the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix, a race that announced him as a genuine front-runner during his debut season with Red Bull Racing (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Has Daniel Ricciardo won a F1 Championship?
No. Ricciardo has never won a Formula 1 World Championship. His best championship finish was third place, achieved twice — in 2014 and again in 2016 (McLaren Racing).
Daniel Ricciardo wins (career total)
Here’s the breakdown of his eight victories:
- 2014 Canadian Grand Prix — his first F1 win (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix (McLaren Racing)
- 2014 Belgian Grand Prix (McLaren Racing)
- 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- 2018 Chinese Grand Prix (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- 2018 Monaco Grand Prix (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- 2021 Italian Grand Prix with McLaren (McLaren Racing)
Ricciardo’s 8 wins came from just 3 different teams — Red Bull (6) and McLaren (2) — but the drought between 2018 and 2021 shows how much his form depended on the machinery beneath him.
The pattern here is clear: Ricciardo won consistently in his Red Bull years, but his last victory (2021) came after a two-year dry spell with Renault and only halfway through his McLaren stint. That’s the career arc that defined his reputation — a driver who could win on the right car but never had a season-long title fight.
The implication: eight wins are enough to secure a highlight reel, but the absence of a title is why Ricciardo’s name is rarely included in all-time great conversations.
Why did Red Bull get rid of Ricciardo?
Red Bull didn’t get rid of Ricciardo — he chose to leave. At the end of 2018, after five seasons with the team, Ricciardo decided to join Renault, a move that surprised the paddock and reshaped his career trajectory (Forbes). Reports at the time suggested he felt Red Bull was prioritizing teammate Max Verstappen, so he gambled on a fresh start.
Why did McLaren sack Ricciardo?
McLaren terminated Ricciardo’s contract early — he was originally signed through 2023, but the team parted ways with him after the 2022 season. The reason was underperformance: Ricciardo struggled to match teammate Lando Norris in consecutive seasons, and McLaren decided to pay him out rather than continue with a driver who wasn’t delivering results (McLaren Racing).
McLaren’s decision to cut Ricciardo loose early — rather than honor the contract — signaled to the paddock that his race-winning days might be behind him.
So the story is one of two exits: Red Bull, where Ricciardo left on his own terms in 2018, and McLaren, where he was shown the door in 2022. Both decisions shaped his path back to Red Bull, where he served as a reserve driver from 2023–2024 before stepping away from the grid entirely (Motorsport.com).
The pattern: Ricciardo’s career hinges on timing — he had control over his Red Bull exit and lost it at McLaren, and that shift explains the reserve role that followed.
What does Daniel Ricciardo do right now?
As of 2025, Daniel Ricciardo is not a full-time Formula 1 driver. After his stint as Red Bull Racing’s reserve driver in 2023–2024, he left the F1 grid for good after the 2024 season. He’s currently enjoying time away from racing, focused on brand partnerships and personal projects — including his merchandise line Enchanté (ESPN).
Is Daniel Ricciardo still in Red Bull?
Not in an active capacity. Ricciardo served as Red Bull’s reserve driver for 2023 and 2024, but he’s no longer in that role for 2025. His connection to the team remains, but his position is ceremonial rather than operational (Motorsport.com).
Did Daniel Ricciardo quit F1?
Not exactly — he’s on a sabbatical. He hasn’t formally announced retirement, but he also hasn’t secured a race seat. In an interview with formula1.com in July 2025, he said: “I’m enjoying life in the slow lane” — suggesting the break is deliberate rather than enforced (via ESPN).
I’m enjoying life in the slow lane.
Daniel Ricciardo, via ESPN
Is Daniel Ricciardo single now?
Yes, as of 2025. Ricciardo is reportedly single following his split from long-term partner Heidi Berger in 2024. He hasn’t publicly confirmed any new relationship, keeping his personal life low-key since his sabbatical began (Forbes).
What this means: Ricciardo is still deciding whether the cost of returning to F1 outweighs the comfort of a life outside it.
Is Daniel Ricciardo going to race in 2026?
No confirmed return has been announced. Daniel Ricciardo has not signed with any F1 team for the 2026 season, and he’s said he’s not rushing back to the grid. However, he’s expressed interest in a potential comeback — if the right opportunity materializes (ESPN).
The 2026 regulation changes are a wildcard here. New power unit rules and chassis specifications could shake up the competitive order, potentially creating openings for experienced drivers like Ricciardo. Whether a team will take that gamble on a 36-year-old remains an open question — especially given the cost of his salary weighed against his recent form (Motorsport.com).
Ricciardo’s window for a competitive return is narrowing — at 36, teams will weigh his experience against the risk of an underperforming veteran blocking a younger prospect.
The implication: Ricciardo’s 2026 prospects depend less on his desire and more on whether a midfield team decides his experience is worth the salary. His name alone won’t land him a seat — his simulations and testing pace will have to.
The catch: unless a team needs a proven, marketable stopgap for 2026, Ricciardo’s comeback may remain hypothetical.
Who are some Australian Formula One drivers?
Australia has produced some of F1’s most memorable characters and champions. Leading the list is Jack Brabham, a three-time World Champion in the 1950s and 60s, followed by Alan Jones, who won the title in 1980. More recently, Mark Webber earned 9 wins across his career, and Daniel Ricciardo added 8 more to the national tally (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Who was a poor F1 driver?
That’s subjective, but names like Pastor Maldonado often come up — despite his one win in 2012, he was notorious for crashes and inconsistency during his career. Other drivers like Yuji Ide and Jean-Denis Délétraz are historical examples of pay-drivers who struggled to secure race seats on merit alone. The question usually reflects the intensity of F1’s competition — even mid-pack drivers are elite by global standards.
Why did F1 get rid of pit girls?
Formula 1 banned the use of grid girls in 2018, a move driven by a desire to modernize the sport and promote inclusivity. Liberty Media, which took over F1 in 2017, led the change, replacing grid girls with a more professional fan-zone experience at races. The decision was polarizing but aligned with broader societal shifts toward removing gendered promotional roles.
The implication: Ricciardo’s place in Australian motorsport history is secure even if his F1 career never resumes.
Frequently asked questions
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth?
Estimates place Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth at around $30 million, accumulated through F1 salaries, endorsements, and business ventures like his Enchanté merchandise brand (Forbes).
Who is Daniel Ricciardo’s girlfriend?
As of 2025, Daniel Ricciardo is single. He was previously in a relationship with Heidi Berger before they parted ways in 2024.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s height?
Daniel Ricciardo stands at 1.78 meters (5 feet 10 inches), which is considered average for a Formula 1 driver.
Does Daniel Ricciardo have any siblings?
Ricciardo is an only child. He was born in Perth, Australia, to parents of Italian and Australian descent.
What is a shoey and why is Daniel Ricciardo famous for it?
A “shoey” is the act of drinking from a race boot to celebrate a podium finish. Ricciardo popularized it in F1, making it his signature celebration after every win and podium — much to the delight (or disgust) of his fellow drivers.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s favorite race win?
Ricciardo has repeatedly cited his 2018 Monaco Grand Prix win as his favorite, partly because of its difficulty — he suffered power and brake issues during the race but still managed to hold off the competition (McLaren Racing).
Is Daniel Ricciardo active on social media?
Yes, Ricciardo is very active on social media, particularly on Instagram, where he shares behind-the-scenes content, brand partnerships, and personal updates to his millions of followers.
Related reading
Both guides trace the same arc: Ricciardo’s peak, his post-McLaren fall, and the open question of whether he returns to the grid.
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.