Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 career has since in decline since he made the shock decision to leave Red Bull but he remains one of the most marketable figures in the sport
Daniel Ricciardo could be waving goodbye to his F1 career after the Singapore Grand Prix.
The popular Aussie’s season with Red Bull’s sister team, RB, hasn’t gone to plan, and he is widely expected to be replaced by Liam Lawson from the next race in Austin next month. While Ricciardo is set to remain within the Red Bull family, his F1 future is hanging by a thread.
It has continued a decline, which started with his decision to leave Red Bull for Renault before a nightmare two years at McLaren, where he was sacked a year early to make way for countryman Oscar Piastri.
He returned to the Red Bull stable, initially as a reserve driver, before landing a seat with RB. Despite his recent struggles, the eight-time race winner has built quite a lifestyle off the track.
Does he regret leaving Red Bull?
When Ricciardo walked away from Red Bull, he left behind the chance of being part of their return to the top. He insists he has no regrets though, telling DAZN: “I don’t look back with regret, but I’m also aware that the decision I made in 2018 [to join Renault]. It felt like it was the right thing to do. From that point of view, I don’t regret it.
“But was it the best decision I made? Would my career look different? Yes, but it doesn’t guarantee I would have won a World Championship or something. But of course that decision was definitely the most controversial one I ever made.”
Who is Ricciardo’s girlfriend?
He is currently dating Heidi Berger, a 27-year-old actress who knows her way around the F1 circuit. She is the daughter of Gerhard Berger, a 10-time Grand Prix winner who finished third in the drivers’ championship twice during the 80s and 90s.
Ricciardo and Berger went public with their relationship in 2022, and he admitted to being smitten with her during an appearance on the Fitzy and Wippa podcast last year.
“Yeah mate, I’m in love,” he said. “I got a good thing going, so yeah. I’ve got a good balance in life right now. I think love eliminates stress.”
Ricciardo’s net worth
After Red Bull, Ricciardo moved on to Renault and McLaren, landing several hefty contracts along the way. Christian Horner has publicly stated that they were ready to nearly double his salary to stopper him leaving the team.
Moreover, McLaren chief Zak Brown revealed that they had to “write a big cheque” to get him on board. He was then reportedly paid around £8million not to race after being axed by McLaren a year before the end of his contract.
Beyond his driving skills, Ricciardo’s bubbly personality has made him one of F1’s most marketable stars. He has commercial deals with Optus, EA Sports, Beats by Dre and Puma. He also has his own fashion range and wine label. According to PlanetF1, Ricciardo boasts a net worth of $96million (£72m)..
Car collection
Despite a wealth of options in luxury vehicles, he still treasures the Toyota Hilux his parents bought him as his first car back in 2006. After hitting the big time, Ricciardo splashed out on a Porsche 918 Spyder and couldn’t resist adding another Porsche, a 997 911 GT3 RS, to his collection.
He already owed a McLaren 675LT before teaming up with the Woking team. His garage also boasts a McLaren 720S and an eye-popping Aston Martin Valkyrie, worth a hefty £2.5m. But it’s not all about modern speed demons for Ricciardo.
Speaking to Top Gear in 2018, he said: “I am fascinated by some modern cars and how close they can be to a race car. If I accelerate away from a set of traffic lights in a quick car, sure it feels fast, but I’m not exactly high-fiving my mate in the passenger seat.
“That’s why I’m starting to warm towards the older stuff. It’s completely different. The H-pattern gearboxes, the vibrations and all that. I appreciate that.”
Where is Ricciardo based?
Ricciardo reputedly has property a property portfolio worth £15m and, like many F1 stars, he has a pad in the tax haven of Monaco.
As a lover of the US, Ricciardo also owns a five-bedroom mansion in Los Angeles, which he snapped up for £10m back in 2018. Quoted by the West Australian about his LA bolthole, he said: “The weather, having the beaches close by, I feel like you can escape the madness of it all.”
