What’s next for Daniel Ricciardo?

The last time Daniel Ricciardo was absent from the F1 grid after racing with McLaren, his hopeful fans were quickly disappointed He was rewarded for his return when he replaced Nick Davis at RB.But After Ricciardo’s unceremonious exit from the grid Midway through the 2024 season, hopes for his eventual return may diminish, as it appears that he He might have hung up his racing shoes forever,

In 13 years, the Australian driver achieved many prestigious victories His Monaco win in 2018 And Monza in 2021 – as well as becoming one of the biggest names in global motorsport. His megawatt smile and laid-back attitude won’t be soon forgotten by fans or Paddock, but his breakup with the series leaves the 35-year-old facing a potential career change. Putting the boots and helmet aside, and considering his other projects and interests in work, what might be on the horizon for the former F1 driver?

Hollywood

Ricardo is already taking steps towards entering Tinseltown with his Hulu-backed comedy, titled down forceThe series, currently in production, centers on the heiress to a racing dynasty who is thrust back into the family business and forced to make difficult choices about the success of her team. This is how the half-hour scripted show is presented circle Set in the F1 paddock, with Alec Berg and Adam County – the duo behind HBO silicon Valley -Writing a series.

Ricardo is the executive producer of the show, but if he wants to try his hand at another project, perhaps one that gets him in front of the camera, he’ll have no shortage of opportunities. The Perth native has been repped by powerhouse talent agency CAA, which boasts an enviable client list that includes Oscar winners, Super Bowl champions and almost everyone in between. He recently showcased his acting skills when he teamed up with his friend, Bills quarterback Josh Allen (a fellow CAA client) on an elaborate Beats promo that included a short film and unique merchandise line. Even after leaving the F1 grid he continued to lean on that friendship and his love of the Bills.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Ricciardo takes his love of American sports even further in his next career move. While he’s certainly established himself as an Australian sporting hero over the past few years (see: Shoei), he’s equally associated himself with America while racing in Texas over the past decade. Some might argue that he has also become a true American to millions of new fans in the US who discovered the uniquely European sport during the pandemic and needed a driver for it.

outfit

Once he was an established racing figure in the paddock, Ricciardo, like many F1 drivers, launched a personal merchandise line. However, when they rebranded from RIC3 to Enchante and began releasing thoughtful, limited-edition drops that fans loved, they proved how serious they were about threads. This hugely successful brand is backed by Harry Styles’ friend, Xander Ritz’s company, The Loyalist, and is available to purchase online, as well as several pop-ups in New York City recently. Of course only time will tell, but it seems Ricciardo has built up such a strong fan base that sales are not dependent on his presence in F1.

As far as her foray into high fashion is concerned, we saw her attending the 2023 Met Gala in a tailored Thom Browne suit. Although he was grateful for the opportunity to follow in the Met’s footsteps, Riccardo immediately admitted that haute couture was not exactly his style. If I were a betting woman, I’d say he’ll leave that field to Lewis Hamilton for the most part.

music

Ricciardo has long professed his deep love of music and has also admitted to having little musical talent (related). If you’ve listened to any of his long-form interviews and podcasts over the years, the driver often mentions music as a passion he wants to explore in a post-F1 world, though that’s not what that looks like. His view is a bit unclear.

Of course, I don’t have a crystal ball, but I’m guessing he may take a non-traditional path within the music industry. Maybe he’d rather own a venue or put on live events than make his own music, but I’d also bet that’s a bit of a long-term plan and we’ll see him try his hand at some other things . First.

Liquor

If you’re not actively looking for it, you might not even realize that Ricardo has partnered with wine brand, St. Hugo, and has his own wine, DR3. The promotion is aimed largely at the Australian market, where the product is sold in one of the country’s largest liquor stores, but can also be purchased online.

Unlike George Clooney’s tequila brand, Casamigos, which was able to stand on its own without an A-lister, the DR3 portfolio of wines relies heavily on Ricciardo promoting the product himself, so he could have it if he wanted to. Will have to continue to lean into this. Do liquor business. I’d put this range pretty low in terms of the likelihood that we’ll see Ricciardo rebranded as a stewardess soon.

IndyCar, NASCAR, or any other racing series

It’s bitter to admit, but I think there’s a good chance that Ricciardo has hung up his full racing kit for good, which means it’s unlikely he’ll chase the dream in another series.

Ricciardo has told reporters (including myself, on the occasions I have interviewed him) that he has many passions outside of racing, and would probably not move to another series after F1 to continue driving. . If you take a look at his social media channels, he’s been spending time on two wheels with Australian Motocross stars Hunter and Jett Lawrence, so it’s possible he doesn’t feel the need to compete to get that fix. Of course, there’s always the possibility that he’ll make one-off appearances at events like Le Mans, but if you’re waiting for NASCAR to make an announcement, you may have to wait a while or forever.

vaccine

As Tom Brady attests in the NFL, the best athletes don’t always make the best commentators. Still, someone likes it Julian PalmerWho had a not entirely ordinary F1 career has become one of the sport’s best pundits. I would love to see Ricciardo in front of the cameras to some degree because he’s a great personality, but history tells us that doesn’t seem to be his strongest suit (see: his failed attempt at commentary with ESPN at the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix ).

Given that Ricciardo’s strengths lie in his great charm and his ability to put people at ease, I could see him signing a deal with a network that would allow him to land in several different sports in some capacity. allowing him to become a widespread media personality. Pure F1 pundit.