Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 exit in 2024 was forced by Red Bull management, not his own choice — but he calls it a relief. The eight-time Grand Prix winner retired in 2025 and now works as a global Ford Racing ambassador while building his Enchante clothing brand.
Formula 1 Grand Prix wins: 8 · F1 podiums: 32 · F1 race starts: 232 · Pole positions: 3 · Fastest laps: 17 · Year of F1 retirement: 2025
Quick snapshot
- 8 F1 wins and 32 podiums (Formula1.com)
- Retired from F1 in 2025 (Ford From the Road)
- Last race: 2024 Italian Grand Prix (Formula1.com)
- Founder of Enchante clothing line (Formula1.com)
- Exact net worth (estimates vary)
- Marital status (private)
- Whether he’ll race in other series (NASCAR, WEC) in 2026
- Sept 2024: removed from Racing Bulls seat (Formula1.com)
- Sept 2025: announced retirement (Formula1.com)
- Sept 2025: named Ford ambassador (Ford From the Road)
- Global Ford Racing ambassador focused on Raptor brand
- Growing his Enchante clothing brand
- Possible off-road or endurance racing appearances
Six key biographical facts, one pattern: from debut to retirement, Ricciardo’s career spanned six teams and produced flashes of brilliance that few peers matched.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel Joseph Ricciardo |
| Born | 1 July 1989, Perth, Western Australia |
| F1 debut | 2011 Australian Grand Prix |
| Last F1 race | 2024 Italian Grand Prix |
| Retirement | 2025 |
| Number of F1 teams | 6 (HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, Racing Bulls) |
What happened to Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 career?
2024 Racing Bulls exit
- Ricciardo was removed from his Racing Bulls seat after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix and replaced by Liam Lawson (Formula1.com (official F1 source)).
- Formula 1 reported in September 2024 that his future was unlikely to involve a race seat on the 2025 grid (Formula1.com).
Red Bull intervention
- The decision to pull Ricciardo from the seat was made by Red Bull management. Ricciardo later said he was grateful the call was taken out of his hands (Formula1.com (official F1 source)).
End of F1 career
- His final F1 race for the Red Bull-affiliated team was at Singapore in 2024 (Formula1.com).
The pattern: Ricciardo’s exit was orchestrated by the same team that nurtured his rise, creating a paradox of gratitude and disappointment.
Is Daniel Ricciardo retired from F1?
Retirement announcement 2025
- In September 2025, Ricciardo confirmed that his racing days were behind him (Formula1.com (official F1 source)).
- He announced the decision alongside the news of his new role as a Global Ford Racing Ambassador (Ford From the Road (official Ford blog)).
Official status
- Ricciardo is now fully retired from Formula 1 and has no plans to return to the grid.
“My racing days are behind me but my love for anything with wheels will remain high.”
— Daniel Ricciardo, as quoted by Ford From the Road
“We are thrilled to welcome Daniel to the Ford Racing family. His passion for motorsport and his ability to connect with fans make him a perfect ambassador for our Raptor brand.”
— Ford Racing, as reported by ESPN (sports news outlet)
What job is Daniel Ricciardo doing now?
Global brand ambassador for Red Bull
- Ricciardo remains a global brand ambassador for Red Bull, making promotional appearances and occasional testing drives (Formula1.com (official F1 source)).
Ford Racing ambassador
- In September 2025, he became a Global Ford Racing Ambassador, focusing on the Raptor brand and off-road lifestyle (Ford From the Road (official Ford blog)).
- The role is separate from Ford’s Formula 1 engine programme with Red Bull, according to ESPN.
Enchante brand founder
- Ricciardo is the founder of Enchante, a clothing line that reflects his personal style and interests.
Ricciardo’s ambassador roles keep him deeply connected to motorsport — without the pressure of a race seat. For Ford, his charisma bridges the gap between racing fans and the Raptor lifestyle market.
Is Max Verstappen still friends with Daniel Ricciardo?
Friendship history
- Ricciardo and Verstappen were teammates at Red Bull between 2016 and 2018, forming a close bond both on and off the track.
Current relationship
- Both have publicly stated they remain friends. Verstappen has praised Ricciardo’s character and called him one of his most enjoyable teammates (PlanetF1 (specialist F1 news outlet)).
Their friendship survived the competitive tension of being teammates — a rarity in F1. For fans, it adds a layer of loyalty that Ricciardo carries into his post-racing life.
What is Daniel Ricciardo doing in 2026?
No F1 return planned
- Ricciardo has confirmed he will not return to Formula 1. His racing future, if any, lies in other disciplines.
Potential off-road and endurance racing
- Ford’s announcement hinted at off-road themed activities. PlanetF1 reported that Ricciardo could participate in the Baja 1000 or similar events (PlanetF1 (specialist F1 news outlet)).
- ESPN noted that the ambassador role does not preclude racing in series like NASCAR or WEC (ESPN (sports news outlet)).
Business ventures
- Ricciardo will focus on expanding his Enchante brand and building his personal media presence.
If Ricciardo does enter a race series like the Dakar Rally or Baja, his crossover appeal could draw a new audience to off-road motorsport — a win for Ford and for his own brand.
Timeline of Daniel Ricciardo’s career
- 2011: F1 debut with HRT
- 2014-2018: Red Bull Racing — wins 7 Grands Prix
- 2019-2020: Renault F1 Team
- 2021-2022: McLaren — wins 1 Grand Prix (Monza 2021)
- 2023-2024: Racing Bulls (AlphaTauri) — last F1 seat
- 2024: Removed from Racing Bulls seat mid-season (Formula1.com)
- 2025: Announces retirement from F1 and becomes Ford ambassador (Formula1.com)
What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Ricciardo is retired from F1 as of 2025
- He is a Red Bull brand ambassador
- He has 8 F1 wins and 32 podiums
- He founded Enchante
- His last F1 race was 2024 Italian Grand Prix
What’s unclear
- Whether he will race in another series (e.g., NASCAR, WEC) in 2026
- Exact net worth figure (estimates vary)
- Marital status (not publicly married, but relationship is private)
flashscore.com, formula1.com, fordauthority.com, nytimes.com, motorsportweek.com, youtube.com, youtube.com
Frequently asked questions
Why did Daniel Ricciardo leave F1?
He was removed from his Racing Bulls seat by Red Bull in September 2024 and chose not to seek another Formula 1 drive. He officially retired from F1 in 2025.
When did Daniel Ricciardo retire?
He announced his retirement from motor racing in September 2025.
What is Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth?
Estimates vary, but most sources place his net worth around $30 million as of 2025.
How tall is Daniel Ricciardo?
He is 179 cm tall (5 ft 10 in).
Is Daniel Ricciardo married?
He is not publicly married. He has kept his relationship private.
What does Daniel Ricciardo do now?
He works as a global brand ambassador for Red Bull and Ford Racing, and runs his own clothing brand, Enchante.
Will Daniel Ricciardo return to racing?
He has said his racing days are behind him, though he may participate in off-road or endurance events in a non-competitive ambassador capacity.
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Craig Newton is Senior Reporter at ScopePress.uk, covering breaking technology news and consumer tech stories across the UK.