Few drivers have left Formula 1 with their reputation as intact as Daniel Ricciardo’s. The Australian walked away from the grid at the end of 2024 with eight Grand Prix wins, 32 podiums, and a reputation as the sport’s most consistently entertaining personality, a profile that separates what’s confirmed about his post-F1 life from the speculation and measures his career against the all-time greats he’s so often compared with.
Formula 1 Wins: 8 ·
Podiums: 32 ·
Championships: 0 ·
Years Active in F1: 2011–2024 ·
Nationality: Australian
Quick Snapshot
- Ricciardo left F1 after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix (Formula1.com (official site))
- He finished his career with eight Grand Prix victories (Formula1.com (official site))
- He founded the Enchanté wine brand (Evening Ledger)
- Whether he will return to F1 in any official role
- His exact net worth, estimated between $30–40 million
- Future involvement in Supercars or endurance racing
- 2024: Announced departure from F1 at season’s end (Formula1.com (official site))
- 2025: Focused on Enchanté brand and life outside racing (Formula1.com (official site))
- Continued growth of Enchanté wine brand
- Possible one-off racing appearances
- Media and ambassadorial roles in F1
The table below summarizes Ricciardo’s key biographical and career details.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Daniel Joseph Ricciardo |
| Date of Birth | 1 July 1989 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| F1 Debut | 2011 British Grand Prix (HRT) |
| Last F1 Race | 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
| Total Wins | 8 |
| Total Podiums | 32 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Teams | HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, AlphaTauri, RB |
Ricciardo’s legacy is defined by eight race wins and an outsized cultural footprint. For a driver who never won a title, his exit from F1 generated more coverage than many champions receive — a pattern that says as much about his personality as his pace.
What is Daniel Ricciardo doing now?
Ricciardo has not raced in F1 since the 2024 season, when he bid farewell at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula1.com (official site)). His final race was the Singapore Grand Prix, after which he was replaced by Liam Lawson at RB for the remainder of the year.
Since leaving the grid, Ricciardo has described himself as “enjoying life in the slow lane” — a phrase he used in a July 2025 interview with Formula1.com (official site).
Is Daniel Ricciardo still racing?
- Not in Formula 1 — his last F1 race was the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix (Formula1.com (official site))
- He has not committed to any full-time racing series for 2025
- He remains involved in motorsport through ambassadorial and media appearances
Ricciardo has also pivoted his energy toward Enchanté, a wine brand he co-founded in 2023. The venture gives him a commercial anchor outside racing — a meaningful hedge for a driver whose F1 income ended with his departure.
The pattern: Ricciardo’s post-F1 life mirrors his racing career — he’s doing things on his own terms, with a smile, and without burning bridges. The Evening Ledger notes that his comeback rumors have been persistent but unconfirmed.
The likelihood of Ricciardo returning to F1 in any role depends on whether a team needs a marketable, experienced driver. Given his 2023–2024 form with AlphaTauri/RB, a race seat is unlikely — but a management or ambassadorial role remains plausible.
The implication: Ricciardo’s post-F1 life is a deliberate transition, not a forced exit.
How many F1 wins does Daniel Ricciardo have?
Ricciardo won eight Grands Prix during his Formula 1 career (Formula1.com (official site)). Seven of those wins came with Red Bull Racing, and one with McLaren at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix (McLaren Racing (official team heritage)).
His career totals include 32 podiums, three pole positions, and 17 fastest laps, according to The Athletic (New York Times sports desk).
Did Daniel Ricciardo win a F1 championship?
No. Ricciardo never won a Formula 1 World Championship. His best championship finishes were third place in both 2014 and 2016, both achieved while driving for Red Bull Racing.
The 2021 Italian Grand Prix win was particularly significant: it returned McLaren to the top step of an F1 podium for the first time since 2012 (McLaren Racing). It was also his last F1 victory.
Ricciardo’s career statistics at a glance.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Grand Prix wins | 8 |
| Wins with Red Bull | 7 |
| Wins with McLaren | 1 |
| Podiums | 32 |
| Pole positions | 3 |
| Fastest laps | 17 |
| Best championship finish | 3rd (2014, 2016) |
The trade-off: Ricciardo’s eight wins place him well below the sport’s statistical elite, but his victory count tells only part of the story. His win at the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix — his first — announced him as a genuine front-runner, and his 2018 Chinese Grand Prix win is still regarded as one of the great modern overtaking drives (Formula1.com (official site)).
Who is the most likeable F1 driver?
In fan polls and media coverage, Daniel Ricciardo is consistently named the sport’s most likeable driver. His smile, humor, and unfiltered interviews made him a fixture of Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” and a rare figure who appealed to both casual and hardcore fans.
The Athletic’s retrospective noted that Ricciardo’s stardom extended beyond results, describing him as one of F1’s most recognizable personalities (The Athletic).
Ricciardo’s marketability exceeded his on-track results, a rare combination in F1.
Formula1.com echoed this, writing that Ricciardo left “a permanent mark on F1 both on and off the track” (Formula1.com (official site)).
This likability had measurable commercial value. Even during his difficult 2023–2024 spell at AlphaTauri/RB, Ricciardo remained one of F1’s most marketable drivers — a fact that kept him in a race seat longer than his results alone might have justified.
Why this matters: F1 is an entertainment product as much as a sport, and Ricciardo’s personality was a key asset. His absence from the 2025 grid leaves a gap in the sport’s character roster that no current driver fully fills.
Who is statistically the best F1 driver of all time?
Statistically, the best F1 driver of all time is a two-way contest between Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher — both have seven World Championships. Hamilton holds the record for most wins with 105, while Schumacher’s 91 wins place him second. Ricciardo’s eight wins, by comparison, place him well outside the sport’s statistical elite.
The comparison is stark but not damning. Ricciardo’s best years coincided with the dominant Mercedes era, when a non-Mercedes driver winning a race was genuinely newsworthy. His 2021 Monza win — achieved at a time when Red Bull and Mercedes were locked in a title fight — was a rare break in the duopoly (McLaren Racing).
“From battling in Baku to magic in Monaco, Ricciardo’s eight Grand Prix wins were all memorable — each one carried his signature mix of aggression and joy.”
— Formula1.com (official site)
Ricciardo won eight races but never a title — yet his cultural footprint rivals many champions. For F1, that’s the paradox at the heart of his legacy: statistics understate his significance.
The catch: Ricciardo’s legacy is larger than his win count suggests.
Who was a poor F1 driver?
F1 history includes drivers whose careers ended with little to show for them — drivers who scored few points, failed to qualify, or were replaced mid-season. Examples include Taki Inoue, who scored no points in 18 starts, and Yuji Ide, whose F1 career lasted four races before his superlicense was revoked.
Ricciardo’s career places him in the upper-middle tier of F1 drivers, far from the poorest.
Ricciardo is not among them. With eight wins, 32 podiums, and a 13-season career, he ranks comfortably among F1’s upper-middle tier — a driver who was never a champion but was consistently competitive at the front of the midfield and occasionally beat the best.
His 2023–2024 return with AlphaTauri/RB was less successful. He was replaced by Liam Lawson after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, a decision that reflected his diminished pace against younger talent (Formula1.com (official site)).
The catch: F1 memory is short. Ricciardo’s later struggles may color how some fans remember him, but his peak years — especially 2014 and 2016 — remain the standard by which Australian F1 drivers are measured.
For young Australian drivers, Ricciardo’s path from HRT to Red Bull remains the blueprint. His career proves that personality and performance can coexist — and that leaving F1 on your own terms is a luxury few drivers get.
The implication: later struggles may dim his memory, but his peak remains the benchmark for Australian drivers.
Daniel Ricciardo’s Career Timeline
- — F1 debut with HRT, then Toro Rosso (Evening Ledger)
- — Red Bull Racing: 7 wins, including 2014 Canadian GP first win (Formula1.com (official site))
- — Renault: 2 wins (2019 Monaco, 2020 70th Anniversary) (Formula1.com (official site))
- — McLaren: 1 win (2021 Italian GP), last F1 win (McLaren Racing (official team heritage))
- — AlphaTauri/RB: return to Red Bull family, no wins (Formula1.com (official site))
- — Announced departure from F1 at end of season (The Athletic (New York Times sports desk))
- — Post-F1 life: focusing on Enchanté brand, occasional racing appearances (Evening Ledger)
What’s Confirmed vs. Unclear
Confirmed
- Ricciardo left F1 after the 2024 season (Formula1.com (official site))
- He has eight F1 race wins (Formula1.com (official site))
- He is not currently racing in any major series
Unclear
- Whether he will return to F1 in any role
- Exact net worth figure (estimated $30–40 million)
- Future involvement in other motorsports like Supercars or endurance racing
- He founded the Enchanté wine brand (source unconfirmed)
The distinction: confirmed facts provide a clear picture, while uncertainties leave room for speculation.
Quotes: Ricciardo in His Own Words
“I’m enjoying life in the slow lane.”
— Daniel Ricciardo, interview with Formula1.com (official site), July 2025
“Many amazing moments.”
— Daniel Ricciardo, reflecting on his final years with Red Bull, Instagram
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth?
Exact figures are not public, but estimates place Ricciardo’s net worth between $30–40 million, accumulated over 13 seasons in Formula 1 with teams including Red Bull, Renault, and McLaren.
Who is Enchanté Daniel Ricciardo?
Enchanté is a wine brand co-founded by Daniel Ricciardo, launched in 2023. The brand reflects Ricciardo’s interest in wine and provides a post-F1 commercial venture.
What team did Daniel Ricciardo drive for in 2024?
Ricciardo drove for RB (formerly AlphaTauri) in the 2024 Formula 1 season. He was replaced by Liam Lawson after the Singapore Grand Prix.
Is Daniel Ricciardo married?
No, Ricciardo is not married. He has kept his personal relationships largely private throughout his career.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s height?
Daniel Ricciardo is approximately 1.78 meters tall (5 feet 10 inches).
Does Daniel Ricciardo have any hobbies?
Ricciardo is known to enjoy wine (which led to his Enchanté brand), water sports, and spending time with family and friends in Australia.
These answers cover the most common queries about Ricciardo’s life and career.
For Australian motorsport fans, the Ricciardo era is over — but the choice facing him is clear: chase a comeback that may never come, or build a second act in wine, media, and ambassadorial work that his personality has already made viable. For Ricciardo, that trade-off isn’t a loss. It’s a different kind of win.
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.