Where Daniel Ricciardo might be heading if he does leave Formula 1 this season.
When Formula One drivers step away from the championship, many venture into new career paths inside and outside motorsport.
Currently, Daniel Ricciardo’s future in F1 is uncertain. Rumours have circulated the paddock that the Australian may be replaced at RB by Liam Lawson, who filled in for Ricciardo in 2023 after he broke his hand in Free Practice 2 during the Dutch Grand Prix. What could be next for Daniel Ricciardo post-F1?
If the Singapore GP was indeed his final race, it was filled with the excitement fans have come to expect from the Australian. Despite finishing P18, compared to teammate Yuki Tsunoda’s P12, Ricciardo made a last-lap attempt to steal the fastest lap from race winner Lando Norris.
This move ultimately benefited Red Bull and his former teammate Max Verstappen in their title battle against McLaren’s Norris. It also felt like a fitting moment for Ricciardo to face McLaren – his former team that cut his contract short – a final time.
Danny Ric stormed to the @DHL_Motorsports Fastest Lap in Singapore 👏👏
👉 https://t.co/sOAsD9HZK8 #F1 #SingaporeGP #MomentsThatDeliver pic.twitter.com/2LvyUCjH9X
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 22, 2024
IndyCar
Throughout the Singapore weekend, journalists asked Ricciardo if his plans might involve IndyCar. He admitted:
“IndyCar still scares me.
“I’ve thought about it because I also thought about it a couple years ago when I knew I wasn’t going to start the 2023 season, but, I don’t know,” he said.
“I know I’m still a competitor. Like, I know I still have a lot of fire in me, but maybe that itch is scratched doing something else.”
Like former drivers Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button, he has expressed hesitation toward oval racing. The high speeds and extreme forces characteristic of this type of competition make crashes potentially more dangerous than those on a road course.
However, this does not imply that IndyCar or NASCAR are more dangerous than F1. Both series have been proactive in enhancing safety standards for their cars and tracks.
Beyond safety, Ricciardo discussed with the media about what he would like from the next phase of his life post-F1.
“It’s hard. It’s even talking about just being in the sport and maybe fighting for a 10th place every now and then.
“It’s maybe the same with doing another series — and no disrespect to other series, but because I’ve been there and experienced the highest of the highs, will I get true fulfillment doing something else? [There’s] no guarantee I’ll be good as something else.
“So is that gonna actually scratch the itch and give me what I want?
“I don’t know. I’ll probably say ‘no’ more than ‘yes,’ but these are things I’ll think about if I’m not in this position.”
While another series may not be what he is after, he could choose to stay within the world of F1.
Red Bull Reserve
If Liam Lawson replaces Ricciardo at Red Bull, the team could lose its reserve driver. Given Ricciardo’s close relationship with the Red Bull organisation, especially after displaying great sportsmanship in Singapore, the Australian may once again find himself in the role of third driver for the team.
His experience could prove valuable in 2025 when Red Bull loses their Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey, whom many credit for the team’s dominant success with both Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. Ricciardo himself benefited from Newey’s expertise, securing seven race wins under his engineering.
In 2023, Ricciardo fulfilled his reserve driver duties through simulator work and tyre testing. If he has not yet envisioned a future beyond the sport, it would not be surprising to see him return to the role he held before making his comeback to the grid with AlphaTauri.
Looking forward to returning home 😊 https://t.co/cT3yFUXBhz
— Daniel Ricciardo (@danielricciardo) November 23, 2022
Presenting
Ricciardo has built a reputation not only for his success in motorsport, particularly F1 but also for his infectious personality and signature smile. Many believe his character has played a role in keeping him on the grid, thanks to the PR value he brings.
If he does not continue racing, Ricciardo would thrive in a presenting role. While Sky Sports could be a strong option, he might also take on an elevated role at F1TV, replacing Jack Doohan.
Doohan, set to join Pierre Gasly at Alpine in 2025, will be stepping down from his TV pundit role – a position he earned through both his expertise and charisma. With a longer career than the 2025 rookie, he could even join the main presenting team at each race.
He would also follow in the footsteps of racers such as Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Martin Brundle, and Susie Wolff, each who retired from racing and continued within the sport’s ecosystem with the likes of Sky Sports and Britain’s Channel 4, and in Susie Wolff’s case, Managing Director of F1 Academy.
Another Team?
While it is highly unlikely – since the only empty seat on the grid for 2025 is at Sauber, where Valtteri Bottas the favourite to re-sign – another team could still seek Ricciardo for his skills and marketability.
However, with Franco Colapinto on the grid without a seat for next season – despite his impressive experience at Williams so far – many will question whether this is fair given Ricciardo’s lack of results at RB. It could be time for him to hang his boots up.
Conclusion
As Daniel Ricciardo navigates this uncertain phase in his career, post-F1, the options before him reflect not just his talent but also his character that has captivated fans worldwide.
Whether he chooses to remain within the world of F1 as a reserve driver, pivot to a presenting role, or explore new opportunities in other racing series, his presence will undoubtedly leave a mark.
