Few F1 fans expected Daniel Ricciardo’s final Grand Prix to pass with so little fanfare. After 257 race starts and eight wins, the Australian driver’s Formula 1 career ended quietly in 2024 when Racing Bulls dropped him after the Singapore Grand Prix.

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Grand Prix wins: 8 · Podiums: 32 · F1 starts: 257 · Pole positions: 3 · Fastest laps: 17 · Teams: 6 (HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, Racing Bulls)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • 2024 Singapore GP – final F1 race (Formula1.com)
  • 2025 – official retirement (ESPN)
  • Sep 2025 – Ford ambassador announcement (Formula1.com)
4What’s next

Eight career facts, one theme: a driver who beat expectations but faced a cold finale.

Attribute Value
Full name Daniel Joseph Ricciardo (Wikipedia)
Birth date July 1, 1989 (Wikipedia)
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) (Wikipedia)
Net worth Estimated $30–40 million (multiple sources) (Wikipedia)
Spouse Not publicly married; long-time partner Heidi Berger (Wikipedia)
Nationality Australian (Wikipedia)

What has happened to Daniel Ricciardo?

Departure from Racing Bulls in 2024

  • Ricciardo’s final F1 race was the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix (Formula1.com).
  • He was replaced by Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls for the remainder of the 2024 season (Formula1.com).
  • His departure effectively ended his Formula 1 career (ESPN).

Speaking to Formula1.com in April 2026, Ricciardo said he was grateful Red Bull made the exit decision for him (Formula1.com).

Why this matters

Ricciardo’s departure was not a retirement by choice. Racing Bulls made the call, and the driver admitted it took the weight off his shoulders. That single decision closed the door on a 13-season F1 career.

Gratitude toward Red Bull for decision

Ricciardo revealed in the same interview that he felt relief when Red Bull pulled the plug. “They made the decision for me,” he said, according to Formula1.com. The implication: he would have struggled to walk away on his own terms.

Bottom line: Racing Bulls ended Ricciardo’s F1 tenure, not his own decision. The driver describes the forced exit as a relief.

Is Daniel Ricciardo retired from F1?

Confirmation of retirement in 2025

  • Ricciardo confirmed his retirement from motor racing in 2025 (ESPN).
  • He later stated clearly: “My racing days are behind me” (Ford From the Road).

Role as global ambassador

Rather than return to the cockpit, Ricciardo pivoted to a brand ambassador role. In September 2025 he was announced as a Global Ford Racing Ambassador, working closely with the Ford Racing team, especially the Raptor brand (Formula1.com).

The trade-off

Ricciardo traded a racing seat for a marketing deal. The Ford ambassadorship keeps him inside the motorsports ecosystem but without the pressure of preparing a car for Sunday. For a driver who spent over a decade chasing tenths of a second, it’s a different kind of speed.

Bottom line: Ricciardo’s F1 retirement became official in 2025. The Ford ambassador role replaced his cockpit duties with corporate appearances.

What job is Daniel Ricciardo doing now?

Ford ambassador role

  • Global Ford Racing Ambassador – announced September 2025 (Formula1.com).
  • He described himself on LinkedIn as a “Driver of fast cars. Proud West Australian.” (Formula1.com).
  • Ford’s official announcement said he would “work closely with Ford Racing, especially on the Raptor brand” (Ford From the Road).

Other ventures and public appearances

Ricciardo remains active on social media, particularly Instagram, where he shares his life after F1. He has made guest appearances at racing events and maintains a visible public profile, though his primary focus is his Ford ambassadorship.

Bottom line: Ricciardo’s current job is a Global Ford Racing Ambassador. His social media profiles confirm he remains a public figure in motorsports culture.

Is Daniel Ricciardo still racing in 2026?

No current F1 seat

As of 2026, Ricciardo holds no F1 contract. His retirement announcement and Ford role make it clear he is not currently racing in Formula 1 (ESPN).

Potential return speculation

No official announcement of a return has been made. Given his statements that his racing days are behind him, a comeback appears unlikely. However, the F1 paddock has seen surprise returns before; nothing is impossible.

What to watch

If a top team suddenly needed a veteran replacement mid-season, Ricciardo’s name would surface. But his own words suggest he’s moved on. The door is not locked, but he’s not reaching for the handle.

Bottom line: Ricciardo is not racing in 2026. A return remains speculation without official backing.

Is Max Verstappen still friends with Daniel Ricciardo?

Past Red Bull teammates

  • Ricciardo and Verstappen were teammates at Red Bull Racing from 2016 to 2018 (Wikipedia).
  • Their on-track rivalry was intense but respectful.

Current relationship status

Public statements indicate they remained on good terms after Ricciardo left Red Bull. Verstappen has spoken warmly about their time together, and the two have been seen joking in the paddock. The friendship appears intact.

Bottom line: Ricciardo and Verstappen remain on good terms. Their Red Bull rivalry did not damage the friendship.

Career timeline

  • 2011 – F1 debut with HRT
  • 2014–2018 – Red Bull Racing, first wins and podiums
  • 2014 – First F1 win at Canadian Grand Prix (Formula1.com)
  • 2019–2020 – Renault F1 Team
  • 2021–2022 – McLaren F1 Team
  • 2021 – Eighth and final win at Italian Grand Prix with McLaren (Formula1.com)
  • 2023–2024 – Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri)
  • 2024 – Removed from Racing Bulls seat, F1 career ends (Formula1.com)
  • 2025 – Officially retires from F1 (ESPN)
  • Sep 2025 – Announced as Ford global ambassador (Formula1.com)

What we know and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Ricciardo’s F1 retirement in 2025 (ESPN).
  • He was removed from Racing Bulls in 2024 (Formula1.com).
  • He is a Ford ambassador (Ford From the Road).
  • He achieved 8 Grand Prix wins, 32 podiums, 3 pole positions, 17 fastest laps (Formula1.com).
  • His final F1 start count is 257 (Formula1.com).

What’s unclear

  • Whether he will return to F1 in any future role (ESPN).
  • Exact net worth figures vary by source (Wikipedia).

Key quotes

“My racing days are behind me.”

– Daniel Ricciardo, announcing his Ford ambassador role via Ford From the Road

“We are thrilled to welcome Daniel Ricciardo as a Global Ford Racing Ambassador. He will work closely with Ford Racing, especially on the Raptor brand.”

– Ford Motor Company statement via Ford From the Road

“I’m grateful Red Bull made the decision for me.”

– Daniel Ricciardo, speaking to Formula1.com in April 2026

For a driver who spent 13 seasons chasing checkered flags, the decision to stop racing came from outside. The pattern: Ricciardo’s post-F1 life is defined by a Ford badge, not a race number.

Additional sources

youtube.com, forbes.com, frontstretch.com, motorsinside.com, f1oversteer.com, instagram.com, facebook.com, emilbergkvist.se

For fans wondering about his life after racing, a detailed look at what comes next for him offers a detailed look at what comes next for him.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Daniel Ricciardo doing after F1?

He is a Global Ford Racing Ambassador, announced in September 2025, working on the Raptor brand and other Ford racing projects (Formula1.com).

Is Daniel Ricciardo married?

He is not publicly married. He has been in a long-term relationship with Heidi Berger (Wikipedia).

How many F1 races did Daniel Ricciardo win?

He won eight Grands Prix: seven with Red Bull and one with McLaren (Formula1.com).

Why did Daniel Ricciardo leave F1?

Racing Bulls replaced him with Liam Lawson after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, effectively ending his F1 career. He later confirmed retirement (Formula1.com).

What is Daniel Ricciardo’s nationality?

Australian (Wikipedia).

Who did Daniel Ricciardo drive for in Red Bull?

He drove for Red Bull Racing from 2014 to 2018, alongside Sebastian Vettel (2014) and Max Verstappen (2016–2018). (Wikipedia).

What is the shoey tradition of Daniel Ricciardo?

After a win or podium, Ricciardo would drink champagne from his own racing shoe – a tradition he started and called “shoey.” It became a signature celebration.

Is Daniel Ricciardo on social media?

Yes, he is active on Instagram and LinkedIn. His LinkedIn profile describes him as a “Driver of fast cars. Proud West Australian.” (Formula1.com).

For F1 fans who grew up watching the smiling Australian win in a Red Bull, the 2026 reality is different. Ricciardo is no longer on the grid. He’s on the Ford marketing payroll. The trade-off: no more race-day adrenaline, but a softer landing than most drivers get. Daniel Ricciardo’s decision to stop was made for him – but the decision to stay out was his own.