The final time Daniel Ricciardo was absent from the F1 grid following his run with McLaren, his hopeful followers have been shortly rewarded along with his return when he changed 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 could have hung up his racing boots for good.
Over 13 years, the Australian driver racked up a sequence of iconic victories, particularly his Monaco win in 2018 and Monza in 2021 — whereas changing into one of many greatest names in international motorsport alongside the best way. His megawatt smile and laid again angle received’t be forgotten by followers or the paddock anytime quickly, however his breakup with the sequence leaves the 35-year-old going through a attainable profession change. Setting boots and helmets apart, and contemplating his different tasks and pursuits within the works, what could possibly 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 group’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 needs to attempt his hand at one other mission, maybe one which takes him in entrance of the digital camera, he received’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 nearly everybody in between. He most just lately 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 definitely cemented himself as an Aussie sporting hero over time [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 turn into a defacto American for the tens of millions of latest followers from the States who found the distinctly European sport through the pandemic and wanted a driver to root for.
Trend
As soon as he was a longtime racing determine within the paddock, like many F1 drivers, Ricciardo launched a private merch line. Nonetheless, he proved simply how critical he was concerning the threads when he rebranded from RIC3 to Enchante and commenced 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 out there to buy on-line in addition to a number of pop-ups, most just lately in New York Metropolis. After all time will inform, nevertheless it appears Ricciardo has constructed a robust sufficient fan base that gross sales aren’t contingent on his presence in F1.
As for his foray into excessive style, 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 lady, I’d say he’ll be leaving that sector to Lewis Hamilton for probably 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). Should you’ve listened to any of his long-form interviews and podcasts via the years, the driving force typically mentions music as a ardour he’d wish to discover in a post-F1 world, nevertheless his imaginative and prescient for what that’s appears to be like to be a bit obscure.
I don’t have a crystal ball, after all, however I predict he might take a nontraditional path inside the music business. Maybe he’ll personal a venue or get into the stay occasions area quite than create music of his personal, however I’d additionally wager that it is a barely longer-term plan and we’ll see him attempt his hand at just a few different issues first.
Wine
Should you aren’t actively in search of it out, you won’t 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 bought in one of many nation’s greatest liquor shops, nevertheless it may 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 should proceed to lean in ought to he need to pursue the wine enterprise. I’d rank this class fairly low when it comes to 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 equipment for good, which implies it is unlikely he’ll be chasing the dream in another sequence.
Ricciardo has instructed reporters (together with me, on the events I’ve interviewed him) that he has a number of passions outdoors of racing, and sure wouldn’t head to a different sequence post-F1 purely to proceed driving. Should 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 attainable he doesn’t really feel the necessity to compete to get that repair. After all, there’s at all times the possibility he’ll make a one-off look on the likes of Le Mans, however when you’re holding out for a NASCAR announcement, you can be ready some time… or perpetually.
Commentary
As evidenced by Tom Brady within the NFL, the perfect athletes don’t at all times make the perfect commentators. But, somebody like Jolyon Palmer, who had a completely unremarkable F1 profession, has gone on to turn into one of many sport’s finest pundits. I’d like to see Ricciardo in entrance of the digital camera in some capability as a result of he’s such a implausible character, 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 appeal and his skill to place folks comfy, I might see him inking a cope with a community that will permit him to dip into a number of completely different sports activities in some capability, making him a broader media character quite than a pure F1 pundit.
On this article
Emily Selleck
Components 1
Tradition
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