What’s next for Daniel Ricciardo?

The final time Daniel Ricciardo was absent from the F1 grid following his run with McLaren, his hopeful followers have been rapidly rewarded with his return when he replaced Nick DeVries at RB. However following Ricciardo’s unceremonious exit from the grid in the course of the 2024 season, hopes for his eventual return could must wane, because it seems he may have hung up his racing boots for good. 

Over 13 years, the Australian driver racked up a sequence of iconic victories, specifically his Monaco win in 2018 and Monza in 2021 — whereas turning into one of many greatest names in world motorsport alongside the best way. His megawatt smile and laid again perspective gained’t be forgotten by followers or the paddock anytime quickly, however his breakup with the sequence leaves the 35-year-old dealing with a potential profession change. Setting boots and helmets apart, and contemplating his different tasks and pursuits within the works, what may very well be on the horizon for the previous F1 driver?

Hollywood

Ricciardo is already making strides to interrupt into tinseltown along with his Hulu-backed comedy, titled Downforce. The sequence, which is presently in testing, facilities on an heiress to a racing dynasty after she is thrust again into the household enterprise and compelled to make troublesome selections about her staff’s success. The half-hour scripted present has been pitched as Entourage set within the F1 paddock, with Alec Berg and Adam Countee — the duo behind HBO’s Silicon Valley — writing the sequence. 

Ricciardo is govt producing the present, but when he desires to strive his hand at one other venture, maybe one which takes him in entrance of the digital camera, he gained’t be quick on alternatives. The Perth native is repped by powerhouse expertise company CAA, which boasts an enviable shopper roster spanning Oscar winners, Tremendous Bowl Champions and virtually everybody in between. He most not too long ago flexed his appearing chops when he teamed up along with his pal, Payments quarterback Josh Allen (a fellow CAA shopper), on an elaborate Beats promo comprised of a brief movie and distinctive merch line. He is additionally continued to lean into that friendship, and his love for the Payments, after leaving the F1 grid. 

I wouldn’t be stunned if Ricciardo additional leaned into his love for American sports activities in his subsequent profession transfer. Whereas he’s actually cemented himself as an Aussie sporting hero through the years [see: the shoey], he’s simply as equally aligned himself with the US whereas racing in Texas over the previous decade. Some would possibly argue he’s even grow to be a defacto American for the hundreds of thousands of latest followers from the States who found the distinctly European sport through the pandemic and wanted a driver to root for.

Vogue

As soon as he was a longtime racing determine within the paddock, like many F1 drivers, Ricciardo launched a private merch line. Nevertheless, he proved simply how critical he was in regards to the threads when he rebranded from RIC3 to Enchante and started releasing considerate, limited-edition drops beloved by followers. The uber-successful model is backed by Harry Kinds’ pal, Xander Ritz’s firm, The Loyalist, and has been accessible to buy on-line in addition to a number of pop-ups, most not too long ago in New York Metropolis. In fact time will inform, but it surely appears Ricciardo has constructed a powerful sufficient fan base that gross sales aren’t contingent on his presence in F1.

As for his foray into excessive vogue, we noticed him attend the 2023 Met Gala in a tailor-made Thom Browne swimsuit. Although he was gracious about having the chance to stroll the steps of the Met, Ricciardo was fast to confess that high fashion wasn’t precisely his type. If I have been a betting girl, I’d say he’ll be leaving that sector to Lewis Hamilton for essentially the most half. 

Music

Ricciardo has lengthy professed his deep love for music whereas admitting in the identical breath that he has little or no musical expertise (relatable). In case you’ve listened to any of his long-form interviews and podcasts by means of the years, the driving force usually mentions music as a ardour he’d prefer to discover in a post-F1 world, nonetheless his imaginative and prescient for what that’s appears to be like to be a bit imprecise.

I don’t have a crystal ball, in fact, however I predict he might take a nontraditional path throughout the music trade. Maybe he’ll personal a venue or get into the dwell occasions house slightly than create music of his personal, however I’d additionally guess that it is a barely longer-term plan and we’ll see him strive his hand at just a few different issues first.

Wine

In case you aren’t actively looking for it out, you may not even understand that Ricciardo has a partnership with the wine model, St Hugo, and his personal wine, DR3. Promotion has leaned fairly closely on the Australian market the place the product is offered in one of many nation’s greatest liquor shops, but it surely will also be bought on-line.

In contrast to George Clooney’s tequila model, Casamigos, which was capable of stand by itself with out the A-lister, the DR3 portfolio of wines depends closely on Ricciardo himself selling the product, so he’ll need to proceed to lean in ought to he wish to pursue the wine enterprise. I’d rank this class fairly low by way of the chance that we’ll see Ricciardo rebrand as a sommelier anytime quickly.

IndyCar, NASCAR, or one other racing sequence

It’s bittersweet to confess, however I believe there’s a great likelihood Ricciardo has hung up his complete racing package for good, which suggests it is unlikely he’ll be chasing the dream in some other sequence.

Ricciardo has informed reporters (together with me, on the events I’ve interviewed him) that he has a number of passions exterior of racing, and certain wouldn’t head to a different sequence post-F1 purely to proceed driving. In case you check out his social media channels, he has been spending time on two wheels with Aussie motocross stars Hunter and Jett Lawrence, so it’s potential he doesn’t really feel the necessity to compete to get that repair. In fact, there’s all the time the prospect he’ll make a one-off look on the likes of Le Mans, however in the event you’re holding out for a NASCAR announcement, you would be ready some time… or ceaselessly.

Commentary

As evidenced by Tom Brady within the NFL, the most effective athletes don’t all the time make the most effective commentators. But, somebody like Jolyon Palmer, who had a completely unremarkable F1 profession, has gone on to grow to be one of many sport’s greatest pundits. I’d like to see Ricciardo in entrance of the digital camera in some capability as a result of he’s such a incredible persona, however historical past tells us that this doesn’t seem like his strongest swimsuit (see: his unsuccessful foray into commentary with ESPN on the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix).

Given Ricciardo’s strengths lie in his effervescent allure and his potential to place folks comfy, I might see him inking a cope with a community that will enable him to dip into a number of completely different sports activities in some capability, making him a broader media persona slightly than a pure F1 pundit.