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F1 favorite Daniel Ricciardo has called an end to his racing career at the age of 36 after being dropped by Racing Bulls last year. This was the second time Ricciardo had been dropped from F1 after McLaren ended their contract with him in 2022. After being out of action for almost a year, the much-loved Australian has revealed that he is ready to move on to other projects, with a deal to become Ford’s global ambassador.
As F1 rumbles on for another season with Ricciardo’s fellow Australian Oscar Piastri, fans will be keen to see whether he can extend his lead over second-placed McLaren teammate Lando Norris. F1 aficionados know there isn’t much between the two, but wagering with crypto coins can help them unlock special deals to increase prices or stakes.
Ricciardo supporters will expect to see him making more media appearances as a way to boost his public profile and increase his value to Ford. TV networks will be keen to add him to their lineups for event coverage because of his easy-going persona and recent experience on the track.
Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 Career
Born in 1989 in Perth, Ricciardo is of Italian descent and grew up watching motorsports and watching his father compete at the Barbagallo Raceway. His start in motorsports came at age 9 when he showed a natural aptitude for karting, going on to become the national champion in 2005.
He progressed to Formula 1 driving and finished third in the 2006 Formula BMW Asia before progressing to Formula Renault in 2007, winning the Western European Cup and coming second in the Eurocup in 2008. 2009 saw him earn a place in the Red Bull Junior team after winning the British Formula 3 championship.
His F1 breakthrough came in 2011 when he made his debut at Silverstone with the Hispania Racing team, going on to drive for full seasons in 2012 and 2013 for Toro Rosso. In 2014, Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel both joined Red Bull Racing, with Ricciardo going on to claim his first F1 victory in Canada. He went on to finish third in the F1 championship after winning in Hungary and Belgium as well.
Another third-place finish came in 2016 following a Malaysian GP win, and between 2017 and 2018, he enjoyed victories in Azerbaijan, Monaco and China.
His nickname of the ‘honey badger’ came about after displaying a fearless racing style, and fans eagerly awaited podium finishes to see his famous ‘shoey’ antics that would see him drink champagne from a shoe.
Ricciardo spent 2019 and 2020 with Renault after he left Red Bull, before moving on to McLaren for 2021 and 2022, where he helped them win their first Italian GP in almost 10 years in 2021.
What’s Next for Ricciardo
Teaming up with Ford, Ricciardo will continue his love affair with motorsports and has said that he is looking forward to working closely with its racing team and Raptor Brand. 2026 will also see Ford become the engine partner of Red Bull, another link that will strengthen the bond.
Rumours had linked Ricciardo with a move into NASCAR or V8 Supercars, but this latest partnership appears to have ended these possibilities. Media opportunities are likely to appear in the future as he will be able to provide a unique point of view from the perspective of competitors in the modern racing world.
Conclusion
Daniel Ricciardo’s popularity as a driver has been key to him securing a position as a global ambassador for one of the most recognisable brands in the world, Ford. While motorsports will be sad to see a talent like Ricciardo retire from competition, it will open up a world of opportunities for him to enjoy a variety of opportunities.
Ford’s upcoming engine partnership with Red Bull will give Ricciardo an opportunity to provide media outlets with expertise from both brands, and everyone in the sport will give him their best wishes.
