Not just an on-track skilled driver, Daniel Ricciardo has captivated the hearts of Formula One fans with his charismatic and fun personality. That infectious smile and vibrant style have been a staple in F1 for several years now, helping to define modern-day racing’s aura and making it seem a lot more entertaining than maybe it actually is. Now, with Ricciardo not on the grid for the first time since 2011, it’s hard not to reflect on how much his presence—along with the unique combination of flair and talent—has enriched the sport.
From the instant Daniel Ricciardo entered F1, he had a different demeanour from the stereotypical, serious, business-like one of many drivers. With his laid-back nature, colourful wardrobe, and ever-present smile, Ricciardo was always the life of the paddock. Whether he was doing his shoey celebrations or in an interview laughing at himself, Ricciardo’s lightheartedness mixed with professionalism made him a fan favourite and an important marketing figure for the sport. The rest of the grid would do well to take a page out of the Ricciardo book of life, loosen up and enjoy a career that can be over in the blink of an eye.
While results in F1 are a driver’s first priority, the combination of Ricciardo’s efficiency on the track and his charm off of it helped him to amass a big fandom that followed not just the racing, but also his captivating personality.
Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda of Visa Cash App RB. (Photo by Peter Fox – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Ricciardo’s career began with the leanest of times at HRT and Toro Rosso, but he quickly built momentum that carried him to Red Bull in 2014 and established the Aussie as a serious title contender. And why not? For one, we saw the emergence of Ricciardo’s signature late-braking, aggressive (but smart, if you ask the FIA) overtaking, and pure opportunistic driving. Alas, the tag of “the last of the late breakers” was born.
We saw a driver who could pick his way through the kind of chaotic race events that sometimes happen in F1 (happenstance events of this sort somehow seem to favour Ricciardo when they occur). We saw a driver who, for whatever reason, seemed to be more of a natural in the Monaco Grand Prix than just about anyone else on the grid. No one will forget the scenes after Monaco in 2018.
Daniel Ricciardo’s transfer to McLaren in 2021 was supposed to signal his comeback. Although he achieved a spectacular victory at Monza that year, his first since 2018, the team’s expectations for Ricciardo and themselves were quite high. In the end, he was not able to deliver results anywhere close to what was expected.
The time at VCARB has been tumultuous to say the least, neither Daniel or his teammate Yuki Tsunoda have been able to perform to the best of their abilities. Statistics may show he has ever so slightly outperformed his younger counterpart but as the experienced leader of the team, they decided to part ways to allow Liam Lawson to progress through.
Daniel Ricciardo might not be a current full-time F1 driver, but his presence in the sport is still very much felt. No driver is quite like him in terms of sheer charisma or in terms of the number of smiles he brings to a grid full of serious competitors. Ricciardo’s future in F1 could hinge on the looming clouds in the Red Bull garage (all eyes on Perez) or in another series. Succeeding in another event next year would go a long way in helping him make a case for getting back into an F1 seat in the future. If we can’t have him in F1 anymore, can we all do our best to get him to conquer Mount Panorama at least once.
If the Honey Badger does walk away from motorsport altogether, I am proud to say I’ve watched nearly every lap of his illustrious 257-race career. Thank you for everything Daniel.