Daniel Ricciardo ends his Formula 1 career: latest news

Daniel Ricciardo Officially Announces Retirement from Formula 1

The Australian, who has 8 Grand Prix wins, will leave the championship after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Ricciardo stated that he wants to try his hand at endurance racing.

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"‘The Smiling Driver’ Steps Down: Daniel Ricciardo Officially Announces Retirement from Formula 1",

"The Australian, who has 8 Grand Prix wins, will leave the championship after the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Ricciardo stated that he wants to try his hand at endurance racing and has already been appointed Global Ambassador for Ford Racing."

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## Main Event

On June 5, 2026, the Formula 1 world was shaken by the news: one of the most charismatic and smiling drivers of modern times, Daniel Ricciardo, officially announced the end of his career in the ‘pinnacle of motorsport’. The Australian, whose career spans 14 seasons, 8 wins, and 32 podiums, will leave the championship after the final Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December 2026. This statement put an end to months of speculation about a possible comeback for the 37-year-old driver.

Ricciardo, affectionately nicknamed the ‘Honey Badger’ by fans for his fearlessness and tenacity on track, made the announcement during an exclusive interview timed to the start of the European leg of the 2026 season. ‘It’s been an incredible journey,’ sources quote Ricciardo as saying. ‘I’ve done 257 Grands Prix, fought against the best of the best, but it’s time to say goodbye to this chapter of my life. I want to leave gracefully, on my own terms, rather than waiting to be pushed out.’

Ricciardo himself had not been at the center of the championship fight for some time. After leaving McLaren and returning to the Red Bull family (AlphaTauri/RB), he was never able to reclaim a spot in the main Red Bull team, which was firmly held by Sergio Perez and later Liam Lawson. His last full season (2024) was disrupted, and after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, he was forced to give up his seat to Lawson, watching the races from the sidelines.

However, unlike many other drivers who faded into the background, Ricciardo did not hide. Throughout 2025, he recovered mentally, focused on business, and enjoyed life without constant travel and 24/7 pressure. ‘It took me time to adapt,’ he admitted in an earlier interview. ‘Life has changed a lot, but it’s for the better. I finally grew a beard and do what I want.’

The main reason for his return to the media spotlight was his appointment as Global Ambassador for Ford Racing. In this role, Ricciardo actively participates in promotional activities for the American giant, which became a technical partner of Red Bull Powertrains in 2026. This collaboration allowed Daniel to stay in the world of motorsport but without the grueling schedule of a driver. However, the status of ‘ambassador’ still left room for fans’ hopes of a comeback.

Rumors of a possible return intensified in early 2026 when a new team, Cadillac (General Motors), officially entered Formula 1. The media speculated that Ricciardo could take the role of an experienced mentor in the American project, which debuted in the 2026 season. It was suggested that the Australian could be the ideal candidate to promote the new brand in the US, given his immense popularity overseas. However, as it became known today, these negotiations never progressed to a concrete stage.

‘I saw those headlines about Cadillac,’ Ricciardo chuckled. ‘Yes, it’s flattering that people talk about me. But I wasn’t interested in diving headfirst into that whirlpool again. To come back, you have to live it, breathe it. And I want to breathe different air.’ Thus, he finally dispelled the myths about his return, confirming that his last Grand Prix as an active driver was already behind him (Singapore 2024), and now he is officially ending his career, finishing the 2026 season as an ambassador, not a driver.

## Details and Statistics

Daniel Ricciardo leaves behind a rich statistical legacy. Over 14 seasons in Formula 1 (2011–2024), he participated in 258 Grands Prix (257 starts). His assets include 8 magnificent wins, 3 pole positions, and 17 fastest laps. Interestingly, he won his first Grand Prix in Canada in 2014, and his last (and perhaps most emotional) victory came at the historic Italian Grand Prix in Monza in 2021, driving a McLaren.

Ricciardo’s career peak came during his time at Red Bull Racing from 2014 to 2018. It was there that he terrorized rivals with his phenomenal late braking, especially at the chicane in Monaco or the first corner in Shanghai. In 2014, his first season with a top team, he finished 3rd in the drivers’ championship, scoring 238 points and winning three races (Canada, Hungary, Belgium).

He became the only driver in the hybrid era (2014–2024) to regularly threaten Mercedes’ dominance at their peak, winning races on pure speed when the Red Bull car often lacked the Renault engine’s power compared to the Germans. Besides Red Bull, Ricciardo drove for HRT, Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, and RB.

Over his career, Daniel scored 1,329 championship points. Despite not winning a title (his best result being 3rd in 2014 and 2016), he is one of the most decorated Australian drivers in Formula 1 history, behind only Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones (world champions). The total prize money and contracts he earned over his career (especially the mega-contract with Renault in 2019, valued at $25 million per year), as well as his current net worth, are estimated by experts at over $50 million USD.

## Context and Significance

Ricciardo’s decision to leave now reflects the harsh reality of modern Formula 1. In 2026, the championship enters a new era of technical regulations (focus on active aerodynamics and increased electrical power), and young, hungry stars are vying for grid positions. Teams like McLaren already boast Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, Mercedes has George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, and Cadillac will likely be driven by IndyCar drivers or young talents.

For the 37-year-old Ricciardo, fighting for a midfield position, where you have to extract 110% from a car incapable of fighting for podiums, ceased to be interesting. After leaving McLaren following a disappointing 2022 season (where he was outperformed by teammate Lando Norris), he had already experienced that feeling of disappointment. His return to RB in 2023–2024 was an attempt to recapture past magic, but no miracle occurred—the car was unstable, and the psychological pressure of realizing he was no longer a top driver proved too heavy.

The last two years Ricciardo spent on a reset. He became Global Ambassador for Ford. This role perfectly suited his charisma: he drives a Ford Raptor pickup, participates in rally raids and Ford Mustang tests, without worrying about seconds or wing adjustments. ‘For me, enjoyment is what matters now,’ he stated. ‘If I ever return to racing (and I don’t rule it out 100%), it will be either endurance racing or something fun where I don’t have to chase a championship title.’

## What’s Next / Upcoming Event

Although his Formula 1 career is coming to an end, Daniel Ricciardo does not plan to disappear from motorsport. In his statement, he clearly outlined his direction: endurance racing (WEC – World Endurance Championship) and possibly participation in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford, whose ambassador he is, has a huge history at Le Mans (the famous Ford GT40 victory over Ferrari in the 1960s), and in 2027, the American company plans to strengthen its program by attracting star drivers.

Ricciardo himself has repeatedly hinted that the romance of marathon races appeals to him. ‘What the guys do in IndyCar on ovals scares me, to be honest. But Le Mans… That’s heritage. It’s a test of machinery and human spirit over 24 hours. I’d like to try my hand at Hypercars. It’s a different rhythm, different tactics. It sounds interesting.’

The next major event on the endurance racing calendar is the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 2026, but this year Ricciardo will likely only be a guest or special correspondent. His full debut in WEC is expected no earlier than the 2027 season, where he could join the factory Ford team or another manufacturer using Ford engines (for example, a new project with Red Bull Powertrains in prototypes).

Additionally, Ricciardo does not rule out participation in demonstration runs and historic Grands Prix. He remains the face of many brands, and his charm will be in demand in media and show business.

## Editorial Forecast

Our editorial team believes Ricciardo’s decision is absolutely timely and correct. Over the past two years, it has become clear that his ceiling in Formula 1 has been reached. He remains fast, but not enough to compete with the top drivers on equal terms, and the role of ‘mentor’ for youngsters or ‘filling gaps’ in teams like Haas or Williams would be humiliating for him. Moving to endurance racing opens a second wind for Ricciardo.

Given his physical fitness (still excellent) and natural speed, he could achieve great success in WEC. In Formula 1, he lacked a tenth to become champion; in endurance racing, the emphasis is on stability and tactical wisdom—qualities the ‘Honey Badger’ has in abundance. We predict that as early as 2027, we will see Ricciardo behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang or another Hypercar at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. If he wins Le Mans, it would be a fitting crown to the career of one of the brightest drivers of his generation, who never became world champion but will forever remain in the hearts of millions of fans.

— Editorial Team