“Wild and wonderful.” That’s how Daniel Ricciardo described his Formula One journey, which concluded on Thursday with the confirmation of his departure from Red Bull for the remainder of the 2024 season. This news was hardly unexpected, as speculation about the 35-year-old’s future had been rife in the lead-up to last week’s race. His final flourish, recording the fastest lap in Singapore, felt like a poignant farewell. The Australian, known for his exuberant personality, seemed at peace with his impending exit, describing the lap as “one last crack at doing a fast one.”
Ricciardo’s phrasing is fitting. Thanks largely to his charming presence in the Netflix series Drive to Survive, he leaves the sport as one of its most beloved figures. The outpouring of tributes from fans and peers underscores the significant impact he has had on the grid, not just as a driver but also as a personality. In an era where F1 has seen a surge in new interest driven by social media, his infectious smile, entertaining interviews, and the famous ‘shoey’ celebration—along with his 32 podium appearances—have become indelible memories for a new generation of fans.
There was likely an early and astute recognition by Ricciardo of the potential benefits of F1’s Netflix venture, but his unabashed Australian spirit has resonated particularly strongly in his homeland. His willingness to poke fun and not take himself too seriously aligns with the ‘larrikin’ identity Australia likes to project to the world. This was evident in his hometown of Perth, where he is considered one of its all-time sporting greats. A generation of F1 fans will remember Ricciardo as a character, one of the grid’s most vibrant personalities. However, this characterization would be incomplete without acknowledging the immense talent and flashes of brilliance he displayed throughout his career.
In his early days, Ricciardo’s performances hinted at the potential for Australia’s first champion since Alan Jones. Interestingly, the pivotal point in Ricciardo’s on-track career coincided with his emergence on Drive to Survive, marked by his switch from Red Bull to Renault. During his breakout 2014 season with Red Bull, Ricciardo capitalized on Mercedes’ occasional lapses, winning races in Canada, Hungary, and Belgium. He finished third in the championship, overshadowing his teammate and then-defending four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. While Max Verstappen’s raw talent would later come to the fore, Ricciardo was initially seen as the Red Bull driver most likely to challenge for the title, if only they could resolve their Renault power unit issues.
Ricciardo’s peak came at Monaco in 2018, where he secured pole position and managed to hold off the competition for 50 laps despite a failing power unit and only six gears functioning. His victory was celebrated with an iconic dive into the Red Bull swimming pool. However, his subsequent moves to Renault and McLaren proved challenging, despite notable podium finishes. His star continued to shine off the track, but there were perceptions of a loss of his aggressive, late-braking style at McLaren. His final victory at Monza in 2021 hinted at what might have been had he not left Red Bull, but the rise of Lando Norris hastened his departure from McLaren.
Ricciardo returned to AlphaTauri/Red Bull in 2023 as a reserve driver, later replacing Nyck de Vries, but a fairytale comeback never materialized. With Yuki Tsunoda’s rise and the promise of Liam Lawson, Ricciardo’s exit was inevitable. Ultimately, Red Bull’s delay in confirming his departure denied him the farewell he deserved. Yet, he leaves as a significant part of F1’s narrative for a decade; his absence would render the story incomplete. His influence took various forms and was delivered in different ways, but it was always genuinely Ricciardo—wild and wonderful.
