Daniel Ricciardo has been let go by VCARB with six races still to go (Image: Getty)
’s F1 career is seemingly over after announced that the eight-time Grand Prix winner will be replaced by for the remaining six races of the 2024 campaign.
With no seats available for the 35-year-old on the 2025 grid and Ricciardo reluctant to take an opportunity in F1 for the sake of it, a true change is on the horizon. What is certain is that the Australian will take his time before making a decision.
“I don’t know. It’s exhausting,” he said when asked about his future plans. “We all know that. It’s exhausting. Look, if this is it and things move on without me I think firstly I will give myself time to figure out what’s next.”
Being just 35 years old with plenty of talent and significant commercial appeal, Ricciardo will be an attractive appeal for other racing series across the world. While the likes of Alexander Rossi, Romain Grosjean and Marcus Ericsson have swapped F1 for IndyCar, the Aussie has no plans to try America’s iconic open-wheel series.
However, he is not against trying his hand at NASCAR. Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen have both made Cup Series appearances in recent years as more F1 alumni consider the transition, and Ricciardo’s No.3 branding is even an ode to the legendary Dale Earnhardt.
“I grew up a fan of NASCAR. I’d like to drive a NASCAR, I’d love to drive around Daytona for example,” he admitted in Singapore. “But would I like to compete? Yes and no. I know it’s not what I grew up doing and I’ll probably get smoked. [So] I don’t know if I need that [but] I would love to experience it.”
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Liam Lawson is set to replace Ricciardo at VCARB from the USGP onwards (Image: Getty)
If Ricciardo doesn’t have the appetite to continue full-time racing then he has the option to venture into sports broadcasting and punditry. This is a common post-career route for F1 drivers, with the likes of Anthony Davidson, Karun Chandhok and all fixtures on the Sky Sports F1 team.
Ricciardo’s bubbly personality could also open him up to TV opportunities outside of the motorsport world. The rise of Drive to Survive has already turned into a pop culture icon, and it has raised the 35-year-old onto a similar standing.
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Alternatively, the Aussie could disappear from the world of motorsport altogether. As former team-mate and close friend suggested: “Maybe [he can] just chill back at the farm… have a lot of fun.”
If no more full-time seats present themselves then Ricciardo’s F1 career is over. He ruled out a return to the reserve driver role that got him back onto the grid in 2023, and despite describing him as ‘part of the jigsaw’ still, a reunion with Verstappen seems highly unlikely.