Daniel Ricciardo: The Life Story Behind Australia's Smiling Racer

Daniel Ricciardo is one of the most popular Formula 1 drivers in history, and one of the best overtakers the sport has ever seen. He won eight Grands Prix with Red Bull, he won at Monaco, he won at Monza, and he did it with a smile, a shoey, and a late-braking move that no one could defend against, a dive down the inside, that became his trademark, and one that made him a fan favourite, around the world. He left Formula 1 in 2024, after the Singapore Grand Prix, a farewell that moved the sport, because everyone knew they were saying goodbye to a legend, and a man who made Formula 1 fun.

Born on 1 July 1989 in Perth, Australia, Ricciardo grew up in a family where motorsport mattered, his father Joe was a businessman who raced, and his mother Grace supported his racing, and he started karting at nine, racing from a young age, and winning championships, before moving to single-seaters, and to Formula 1, where he made his debut in 2011, with HRT, at twenty-two, a debut that announced him as a star. This is the story of Daniel.

Perth, Australia, and the Karts

Ricciardo was born in Perth, in Western Australia, and he grew up in a family where motorsport was a passion. His father, Joe, was an Italian-Australian businessman who raced cars as a hobby, and his mother, Grace, supported his racing, driving him to tracks, and encouraging him to chase his dream, even when it seemed impossible for a boy from Perth to become a Formula 1 driver, because Australia is far from Europe, and the sport is expensive, and the competition is fierce.

He started karting at nine, and he won championships in Australia, and he moved to Europe in 2008, racing in Formula Renault, and winning the championship in 2008, and the British Formula 3 championship in 2009, a rapid rise, and he made his Formula 1 debut in 2011, with HRT, at twenty-two, a small team, but one that gave him a chance, to prove himself, in Formula 1, and he did, earning a move to Toro Rosso, in 2012, and then to Red Bull, in 2014, a dream come true, for a boy from Perth.

The years at HRT, from 2011, were the making of Daniel Ricciardo, because he learned to win there, to handle pressure there, and to deliver when the team needed him most, and those lessons stayed with Daniel Ricciardo for the rest of his career, in every club, and every country, where he played afterwards. He made his debut in Formula 1, at twenty-two, with a small team, but showing a talent that impressed everyone. It was at HRT that Daniel Ricciardo became the player the world would come to know, and HRT played its part, in making him.

The Rise: Red Bull, the First Wins, and the Star

Ricciardo’s rise came in 2014, when he joined Red Bull, and finished second at home in Australia, in Melbourne, in his first race for Red Bull, a podium that was taken away hours later, when he was disqualified for a fuel-flow irregularity, a heartbreak, because he had thrilled his home crowd, and he lost the result, through no fault of his own, but he won again, in Canada, and in Hungary, and in Belgium, three wins, in his first season, a triumph that made him a star, and one that announced him as a future champion, with Red Bull, the team that had won four titles in a row, with Vettel.

The rise continued through the decade, as he won races in 2016, 2017, and 2018, including at Monaco in 2018, a triumph that was the most emotional of his career, because he had lost the race in 2016, through a pit-stop error, and he came back, and won, in 2018, with a car that was losing power, a drive that was flawless, and one that made him a hero, and a legend, in Formula 1, a driver who could win, in the most prestigious race, in the most difficult circumstances.

Daniel Ricciardo made Toro Rosso his home in 2012–2013, and the supporters took him to their hearts, because Daniel Ricciardo played with a passion that was obvious, and a skill that was undeniable, and he became one of their own, a player they still talk about, in Australia and everywhere, when they remember the best teams, and the best days, that Toro Rosso has ever known. He scored points, and earned a move to Red Bull, the top team, in 2014. The time at Toro Rosso shaped Daniel Ricciardo as a player, and as a person, and it is a period Daniel Ricciardo still looks back on, with pride, and with gratitude.

At Red Bull Racing, where Daniel Ricciardo played from 2014–2018, he showed the world what he could do, with performances that were consistent, brave, and brilliant, and Red Bull Racing gave him the stage, and Daniel Ricciardo gave the club the memories, a partnership that worked, for both sides, and one that defined a chapter, of his career, and theirs. He won eight Grands Prix, including at Monaco in 2018, and finished third in the championship twice. Those years at Red Bull Racing remain a proud chapter in the story of Daniel Ricciardo, and in the history of Red Bull Racing itself.

The Peak: Eight Wins, Monaco, and Monza

Ricciardo’s peak came from 2014 to 2018, with Red Bull, when he won eight Grands Prix, and took three pole positions, and finished third in the championship twice, in 2014 and 2016, a period in which he was one of the best drivers in the world, a racer who was fast, brave, and brilliant, with a late-braking move that no one could defend, and a smile that made him a fan favourite, around the world, a driver who was loved, by everyone, in Formula 1, because he made the sport fun, and he won, with class.

He won at Monaco in 2018, a triumph that was the highlight of his career, because he had lost the race in 2016, and he came back, and won, with a car that was losing power, a drive that was perfect, and one that made him cry on the podium, because he had won, at Monaco, the most prestigious race, in the most difficult circumstances, a moment that will be remembered, as one of the greatest, in Formula 1 history.

He moved to Renault in 2019, and to McLaren in 2021, chasing more wins, and he won at Monza in 2021, with McLaren, beating his teammate Lando Norris, in a one-two finish, a triumph that was the first win for McLaren in nine years, and one that made him a hero, and a legend, because he had won, for McLaren, at Monza, the fastest circuit, in the most dramatic race, a victory that will be remembered, as one of the greatest, in McLaren history.

The Monaco Grand Prix of 2018 remains a vivid memory for the fans of Daniel Ricciardo, because it was a tournament where Daniel Ricciardo played with a freedom, a bravery, and a skill, that made everyone take notice, of what he could do. He won the race, with a car that was losing power, a drive that was flawless, and one that made him cry on the podium. The Monaco Grand Prix of 2018 added another chapter to the story of Daniel Ricciardo, and it is one that his fans, will never forget.

Daniel Ricciardo went into the Italian Grand Prix in 2021 with expectation on his shoulders, and Daniel Ricciardo carried it, with a calm that impressed everyone, and a quality that decided matches, when they mattered most. He won at Monza, with McLaren, the team’s first win in nine years, in a one-two finish with Norris. That tournament is still talked about, when fans remember the best of Daniel Ricciardo, and the best of his sport.

Season after season, Daniel Ricciardo did the same thing, he turned up, he worked, and he delivered, and that consistency is the hardest thing in sport, because talent fades, form dips, and injuries come, but Daniel Ricciardo kept coming back, kept scoring, kept winning, and kept proving, that he belonged, among the best, for longer, than almost anyone, in his generation.

In Formula 1, a career is judged by wins, and championships, and Daniel Ricciardo earned them, in the biggest races, against the best drivers, in the world, and that is why the name of Daniel Ricciardo is remembered, by fans, in every country, where the sport is watched, and why young drivers, in Australia, still study, the way Daniel Ricciardo raced.

Australia: The Hero, the Smile, and the Shoey

For Australia, Ricciardo is a hero and a legend, the most popular Australian driver since Alan Jones, and the driver who won eight Grands Prix, and who made Formula 1 fun, with his smile, his shoey, and his late-braking moves, a racer who is loved at home, and around the world, because he is real, and he is funny, and he is not afraid to be himself, a driver who is a role model, on and off the track, and a man who is a national icon, in a country where motorsport is a passion, and Daniel is the star, who won, for Australia, in Formula 1.

He is also the driver who introduced the shoey to Formula 1, drinking champagne from his shoe, on the podium, a celebration that became famous, around the world, and one that other drivers copied, a tradition that is now part of the sport, and one that shows his personality, and his humour, a man who does not take himself too seriously, and who makes Formula 1 fun, for everyone who watches, a legacy that goes beyond wins, and one that will last, for generations.

The Australian Grand Prix in 2014 was one of the defining tournaments of the career of Daniel Ricciardo, because the whole world was watching, and Daniel Ricciardo showed, that he could perform, on the biggest stage, against the best, in his sport. He finished second at home, in Melbourne, in his first race for Red Bull, then was disqualified for a fuel-flow irregularity. It was a performance that Daniel Ricciardo earned, and one that showed the world, exactly what Daniel Ricciardo could do.

At the Singapore Grand Prix in 2024, Daniel Ricciardo proved, once again, that he was a player for the big occasion, delivering when the pressure was highest, and the stakes were greatest, in front of millions, around the world. He raced his final Grand Prix, leaving Formula 1, after the race, a farewell that moved the sport. The Singapore Grand Prix of 2024 added another chapter to the story of Daniel Ricciardo, and it is one that his fans, will never forget.

The Monaco Grand Prix of 2016 remains a vivid memory for the fans of Daniel Ricciardo, because it was a tournament where Daniel Ricciardo played with a freedom, a bravery, and a skill, that made everyone take notice, of what he could do. He took pole, but lost the race, through a pit-stop error, a heartbreak that made his win in 2018 even more emotional. That tournament is still talked about, when fans remember the best of Daniel Ricciardo, and the best of his sport.

Late Braking, the Dive, and the Art of the Overtake

Ricciardo’s game is built on late braking and overtaking. He is the best overtaker in Formula 1, with a dive down the inside, that no one can defend against, a move that is brave, and precise, and one that has won him races, and made him a fan favourite, because he is exciting to watch, and he is always trying, always looking for a way past, a driver who is a throwback, to the racers of the past, who drove with their heart, as much as with their head.

What makes him special is his smile and his personality. He is funny, he is warm, and he is one of the most popular drivers in the sport, a man who fans love, because he is real, and he is honest, and he is not afraid to be himself, and that personality, combined with his speed, makes him a star, on and off the track, a driver who is loved, by everyone, in Formula 1, because he makes the sport fun, and he wins, with class.

In 2018, Daniel Ricciardo won the Monaco Grand Prix win as a winner with Red Bull, in the most prestigious race, with a car that was losing power. Winning the Monaco Grand Prix win in 2018 changed the career of Daniel Ricciardo, because it turned promise into proof, and talent into titles, and it gave Daniel Ricciardo the confidence, to believe that he could win, again, and again, at the highest level, of his sport. It was a win that Daniel Ricciardo earned, and one that no one can ever take away from Daniel Ricciardo.

In 2021, Daniel Ricciardo won the Italian Grand Prix win as a winner with McLaren, at Monza, the team’s first win in nine years, in a one-two finish. The Italian Grand Prix win in 2021 was a triumph that Daniel Ricciardo will never forget, because it came after years of work, and it proved that Daniel Ricciardo belonged, among the best, in his sport, and the medal, the trophy, and the memory, remain among the proudest, of his whole career. The Italian Grand Prix win of 2021 is the kind of triumph that defines a career, and Daniel Ricciardo earned it, with years of work, and a performance, that will be remembered.

In 2014, Daniel Ricciardo won the Australian Grand Prix podium as the runner-up at home in Melbourne, in his first race for Red Bull, later disqualified for a fuel-flow irregularity. When Daniel Ricciardo won the Australian Grand Prix podium in 2014, it was the reward for everything he had given to the game, the training, the sacrifice, and the belief, and it showed the world, in Australia and everywhere, that Daniel Ricciardo was not just a talented player, but a winner, who could deliver, when it mattered most. That Australian Grand Prix podium remains a landmark in the story of Daniel Ricciardo, and in the history of Australia sport.

The Renault Move, the McLaren Struggle, and the Farewell

Ricciardo’s career has had real frustrations. He left Red Bull in 2018, for Renault, a move that was a mistake, because Renault was slower, and he could not win, spending two years in the midfield, a wilderness, for a driver who had won eight races, and who was used to winning, a period that cost him the best years of his career, and one that he has spoken about openly, saying that he wanted a new challenge, but that the challenge was harder than he expected, and that he regretted leaving Red Bull, a decision that defined his career, and one that he could not undo.

There was also the McLaren struggle, from 2021 to 2022, when he could not adapt to the car, and he was beaten by his teammate Norris, a defeat that hurt, because he was a race winner, and he was struggling, in a car that did not suit him, and he left McLaren in 2022, joining AlphaTauri, and then RB, in 2023 and 2024, a comeback, that did not work, and he left Formula 1 after the Singapore Grand Prix in 2024, a farewell that moved the sport, because everyone knew they were saying goodbye to a legend, and a man who made Formula 1 fun.

The numbers tell their own story, for Daniel Ricciardo. He won eight Grands Prix in Formula 1, all with Red Bull, except for one with McLaren, at Monza in 2021. He won the Monaco Grand Prix in 2018, with a car that was losing power, one of the greatest drives in F1 history. He introduced the shoey to Formula 1, drinking champagne from his shoe, on the podium, a celebration now copied by other drivers. He was the first Australian driver to win a Grand Prix since Mark Webber, in 2012, when he won in Canada in 2014. He finished third in the world championship twice, in 2014 and 2016, with Red Bull, his best results in Formula 1.

The record book tells the story of Daniel Ricciardo better than any speech could, because every number in it was earned, in competition, under pressure, and against opponents, who were trying, just as hard, to stop Daniel Ricciardo, and that is why the numbers, will last.

Australia’s Smiling Star, and a Legend of F1

Ricciardo is widely regarded as one of the most popular drivers in Formula 1 history, and he is a race winner, with eight victories, and a driver who won at Monaco, and at Monza, and who made the sport fun, with his smile, his shoey, and his late-braking moves, a racer who is loved, by everyone, in Formula 1, because he is real, and he is funny, and he is not afraid to be himself, a legacy that goes beyond wins, and one that will last, for generations, because Daniel made Formula 1 fun, and that is a gift, that few drivers have ever given, to the sport.

His legacy is also about Australia, because he is the most popular Australian driver since Alan Jones, and he put Australian motorsport on the map, inspiring a generation of young Australians to take up karting, and to dream of Formula 1, and that is a legacy that will last, for generations, because Daniel is more than a driver, he is a symbol, of what Australia can achieve, in Formula 1, and a hero, for his country, and for the world.

In 2014, Daniel Ricciardo won the Canadian Grand Prix win as a winner with Red Bull, his first official victory in Formula 1, in Montreal. The Canadian Grand Prix win of 2014 stands out in the career of Daniel Ricciardo, because it was won against the best, in the biggest arena, and it took everything Daniel Ricciardo had, to win it, and the victory made him a hero, at home, and a star, around the world. It was a win that Daniel Ricciardo earned, and one that no one can ever take away from Daniel Ricciardo.

In 2014, Daniel Ricciardo won the Hungarian Grand Prix win as a winner with Red Bull, in a dramatic race, beating Hamilton and Alonso. Daniel Ricciardo still talks about the Hungarian Grand Prix win in 2014 as one of the great days of his life, because the whole team, the whole country, and the whole sport, were watching, and Daniel Ricciardo delivered, with a performance that was calm, brave, and brilliant, when the pressure was greatest. The Hungarian Grand Prix win of 2014 is the kind of triumph that defines a career, and Daniel Ricciardo earned it, with years of work, and a performance, that will be remembered.

In 2014, Daniel Ricciardo won the Belgian Grand Prix win as a winner with Red Bull, at Spa, his third win in his first season with the team. Winning the Belgian Grand Prix win in 2014 changed the career of Daniel Ricciardo, because it turned promise into proof, and talent into titles, and it gave Daniel Ricciardo the confidence, to believe that he could win, again, and again, at the highest level, of his sport. That Belgian Grand Prix win remains a landmark in the story of Daniel Ricciardo, and in the history of Australia sport.

Beyond the headline triumphs, there were more, because Daniel Ricciardo also won the Belgian Grand Prix win in 2014; the Azerbaijan Grand Prix win in 2017; the Chinese Grand Prix win in 2018, honours that are easy to overlook, beside the biggest titles, but ones that show the depth, and the consistency, of the career of Daniel Ricciardo, year after year, tournament after tournament, at the highest level.

Count the honours, and the scale of the career of Daniel Ricciardo becomes clear, because the list runs to 8 major titles, medals, and awards, each one earned, in competition, against the best, in Australia and the world, and each one a chapter, in a story, that few players, in any sport, can match, for length, for quality, and for consistency, over so many years, and among them, the Monaco Grand Prix win in 2018 stands tall, for Daniel Ricciardo and for Australia.

The journey of Daniel Ricciardo took him from HRT to McLaren, with stops at Toro Rosso, Red Bull Racing, Renault, along the way, and each stop taught Daniel Ricciardo something new, about the game, about himself, and about winning, at the highest level, in Australia and around the world, a journey that made him the player, and the person, he is today.

My Take:

When people ask me about Daniel Ricciardo, I do not start with the trophies, I start with the player, because the trophies, are only, the result.

What I admire most about Ricciardo is the smile, because he is one of the most popular drivers in Formula 1 history, and he made the sport fun, with his shoey, his humour, and his late-braking moves, a racer who is loved, by everyone, because he is real, and he is funny, and he is not afraid to be himself. When I look at young drivers who want to be popular, I tell them to watch Daniel, because popularity is not about winning, it is about being yourself, and he was himself, always, and that is why he is a legend, on and off the track.

The Monaco win in 2018 is the moment that defines him, because he had lost the race in 2016, through a pit-stop error, and he came back, and won, in 2018, with a car that was losing power, a drive that was flawless, and one that made him cry on the podium, because he had won, at Monaco, the most prestigious race, in the most difficult circumstances. That is not just a win, it is redemption, and it is the performance that will be remembered when his career is over, as the day Daniel won, at Monaco, and proved he was one of the best.

I also think Ricciardo is underrated as an overtaker, because he is the best in Formula 1, with a dive down the inside, that no one can defend against, a move that is brave, and precise, and one that has won him races, and made him a fan favourite, because he is exciting to watch, and he is always trying, always looking for a way past, a driver who is a throwback, to the racers of the past, who drove with their heart, as much as with their head.

If I have a criticism, it is only the Renault move, because he left Red Bull, for a new challenge, and it was a mistake, because Renault was slower, and he could not win, spending two years in the midfield, a wilderness, for a driver who had won eight races, and who was used to winning, a period that cost him the best years of his career. But the eight wins are his, and Monaco is his, and Monza is his, and those are achievements that will last forever, and that is why he is a legend, and why the farewell in Singapore moved the sport, because everyone knew they were saying goodbye to a man who made Formula 1 fun.

Take the Monaco win in 2018, and look at it closely, because Ricciardo won the race, with a car that was losing power, a drive that was flawless, and one that made him cry on the podium, because he had lost the race in 2016, and he came back, and won, in 2018, a triumph that was the highlight of his career. That is not luck, it is preparation, meeting opportunity, and Daniel Ricciardo was prepared, because he had done the work, for years, before that moment, ever arrived.

I will never forget the Monza win in 2021, because Ricciardo won at Monza, with McLaren, the team’s first win in nine years, in a one-two finish with Norris, a triumph that made him a hero, and one that will be remembered, as one of the greatest, in McLaren history. Moments like that are why sport matters, and why Daniel Ricciardo will be remembered, long after the final whistle, of his final match, has blown.

When I think about the first win in Canada, 2014, I think about what it teaches, because Ricciardo won his first official Grand Prix, in Montreal, beating the Mercedes, in a straight fight, a triumph that announced him as a star, and a future champion, with Red Bull. And that is the lesson, that talent opens the door, but character walks through it, and Daniel Ricciardo walked through it, again and again, in his career.

The moment I keep coming back to is the farewell in Singapore, 2024, because Ricciardo raced his final Grand Prix, leaving Formula 1, after the race, a farewell that moved the sport, because everyone knew they were saying goodbye to a legend, and a man who made Formula 1 fun. It is the kind of moment that stays with you, long after the match is over, and it is why Daniel Ricciardo matters, not just as a player, but as an example, for anyone, who wants to be great.

The numbers say it plainly, because He won eight Grands Prix in Formula 1, all with Red Bull, except for one with McLaren, at Monza in 2021. And numbers do not lie, they do not flatter, and they do not forget, and that is why the record of Daniel Ricciardo will stand, for years, to come.

One record, more than any other, sums up Daniel Ricciardo, because He won the Monaco Grand Prix in 2018, with a car that was losing power, one of the greatest drives in F1 history. It is the kind of achievement that takes a whole career, to earn, and a whole lifetime, to appreciate, and Daniel Ricciardo earned it, the hard way.

Look at the record, and look at what it means, because He introduced the shoey to Formula 1, drinking champagne from his shoe, on the podium, a celebration now copied by other drivers. That is not a number on a page, it is a career, in miniature, and it is why Daniel Ricciardo belongs, among the greats, of his sport.

The numbers say it plainly, because He was the first Australian driver to win a Grand Prix since Mark Webber, in 2012, when he won in Canada in 2014. And numbers do not lie, they do not flatter, and they do not forget, and that is why the record of Daniel Ricciardo will stand, for years, to come.

The lesson of Daniel Ricciardo is a lesson for every young racer in Australia, because he proved that work, talent, and belief, win races, and that a boy, from anywhere, can become a champion, if he is willing, to do the work, that others will not do, and to keep going, when others stop.

The fans of Daniel Ricciardo will tell you, that he was more than a driver, because he gave them memories, that they will carry, for the rest of their lives, and that is the true measure, of a racer, not the wins, but the thrill, he gave, to the people, who watched him race.

If you want to understand Daniel Ricciardo, start with the numbers, because he won 8 major honours, he played for 5 clubs or teams, and he set 5 records, that are listed, in his story, and those numbers were not given to him, they were earned, in competition, against the best, in the world, over many years, and that is why they matter, because they are the proof, of a career, that was built, on work, on talent, and on a refusal, to accept, anything less, than the best.

The future is still open for Daniel Ricciardo, because his story is not finished, and the next chapter, whatever it holds, will be watched, by millions, in Australia and around the world, who want to see, what he does next, and whether he can add, to a career, that is already, one of the greats, of his sport, and that is the mark, of a true star, that people care, about what happens next, long after, the biggest triumphs, are already, in the past.

The beauty of watching Daniel Ricciardo was the simplicity, because he made the hardest things, look easy, and the easiest things, look perfect, and that is the mark, of a master, in any sport, and it is why, young players, in Australia, still copy, the way he moved, the way he thought, and the way, he played, the game.

I have seen many great players, and Daniel Ricciardo belongs, with the very best, because he did it, for longer, and under more pressure, than most, and he did it, with a smile, and a humility, that made him, easy to admire, and hard, to dislike, and that is a combination, that few athletes, in any era, have ever managed, to achieve.

If Daniel Ricciardo had never won another title, after the Monaco Grand Prix win in 2018, his career, would still matter, because of the way, he played, and the way, he carried himself, and the example, he set, for the next generation, in Australia and around the world, and that is the true measure, of a great athlete, not the count, of the trophies, but the size, of the example.

What stays with me, about Daniel Ricciardo, is the consistency, because year after year, season after season, he delivered, the same standard, the same effort, and the same quality, and that is harder, than one brilliant season, because anyone can be great, for a month, but only the best, are great, for a decade, and Daniel Ricciardo was great, for a decade, in Australia and around the world.

I think about the young Daniel Ricciardo, the one who started out, with nothing but talent, and a dream, and I think about how far he travelled, from those first days, to the Monaco Grand Prix win in 2018, and the journey is the story, not the destination, because the work, the sacrifice, and the belief, are what made him, and the trophy, was only, the proof.

There is something about the way Daniel Ricciardo handled defeat, that tells you, more about him, than any victory ever could, because he lost, he learned, and he came back, stronger, and he did not blame anyone, he did not make excuses, and he did not quit, and that is why, his teammates trusted him, and his opponents respected him, at McLaren and everywhere, he played.

The numbers tell one story, about Daniel Ricciardo, but the eyes tell another, because anyone who watched him play, could see, that he loved the game, that he played, with joy, and with freedom, and that love, is what carried him, through the hard days, and the injuries, and the defeats, and it is why, he lasted, as long as he did, at the very top.

I often wonder, what Daniel Ricciardo would say, to a young player, starting out today, in Australia, and I think he would say, work hard, believe in yourself, and never stop learning, because that is what he did, from his first day, to his last, and it is the simplest advice, and the hardest, to follow, and it is the reason, he became, one of the best, in the world.

The Monaco Grand Prix win in 2018 was not the end, of the story of Daniel Ricciardo, it was the beginning, of the next chapter, because after that triumph, he was no longer, a hopeful, he was a champion, and champions are judged, differently, and he knew it, and he rose, to that judgement, again and again, in Australia and around the world, for the rest, of his career.

What I respect, about Daniel Ricciardo, is that he never took the easy road, because he could have stayed, where he was comfortable, and he chose, to test himself, against the best, in the biggest matches, and that choice, is what separates, the good from the great, and it is why, his name, is remembered, by fans, in every country, where his sport, is played.

When the history of Australia sport is written, the name of Daniel Ricciardo will be, in the first chapter, because he changed, what people believed, was possible, and he showed, a whole generation, that a boy from their streets, could become, a champion of the world, and that belief, is worth, more than any trophy, in any cabinet.

I have no doubt, that Daniel Ricciardo will be remembered, not just for the Monaco Grand Prix win in 2018, but for the way, he carried himself, on and off the field, because he was humble, in victory, and gracious, in defeat, and he treated people, with respect, and that is the kind of greatness, that lasts, long after, the last match, has been played.

The best thing, about watching Daniel Ricciardo, was that you never knew, what he would do next, because he could surprise you, in any moment, with a piece of skill, that no one expected, and that unpredictability, is what made him, so exciting, to watch, and so hard, to play against, and it is why, fans in Australia, still talk about him, today.

I have watched Daniel Ricciardo for years, and the thing that strikes me, every time, is the intelligence, because he reads the game, two moves ahead, and he is already, where the ball will be, before anyone else, has even moved, and that anticipation is not luck, it is study, and it is why Daniel Ricciardo was so hard, to play against, in Australia and around the world, for so many years.

So that is Daniel Ricciardo, a champion, a leader, and an example, and his story, is not just, a list, of titles, it is a reminder, that greatness is earned, day by day, and that anyone, in Australia or anywhere, can earn it, if they are willing, to do, the work.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Daniel Ricciardo born?

Daniel Ricciardo was born on 1 July 1989 in Perth, Australia. He started karting at nine, won the British Formula 3 championship in 2009, and made his F1 debut in 2011 with HRT, at twenty-two.

How many races did Daniel Ricciardo win?

Ricciardo won eight Grands Prix in Formula 1, seven with Red Bull and one with McLaren, at Monza in 2021. He won at Monaco in 2018, and he finished third in the championship twice, in 2014 and 2016.

What is the shoey?

The shoey is Daniel Ricciardo’s famous podium celebration, drinking champagne from his racing shoe. He introduced it to Formula 1, and other drivers have copied it, making it one of the most famous traditions in the sport.

When did Daniel Ricciardo leave F1?

Ricciardo left Formula 1 after the Singapore Grand Prix in 2024, with RB, the former AlphaTauri team. He had raced in F1 since 2011, winning eight races, and his farewell moved the sport, because he was one of its most popular drivers.

Did Daniel Ricciardo win at Monaco?

Yes, Ricciardo won the Monaco Grand Prix in 2018 with Red Bull, with a car that was losing power, a drive that was flawless. He had lost the race in 2016 through a pit-stop error, making his 2018 win even more emotional.