For Daniel Riccardo, What’s Next?
Daniel Riccardo, one of F1’s most enigmatic personalities is officially out of his seat for the next season. Now with no guarantee for the future let’s ask, what’s next for the Honey Badger? At the moment a return to F1 seems unlikely, especially with his immediate release from a seat, it would be hard to imagine Daniel driving in the sport again. However, it is not impossible as Audi has yet to sign their second driver, with many reporting Daniel may have a future there. With that out of the way, let's break down the most likely scenarios for Daniel’s next moves.
Media Sponsorship or Red Bull Ambassador?
This comes as no surprise, but Daniel could have a role similar to Guenther Steiner, the former team principal of Haas turned media reporter. Not only does he have the personal flair, but he has a knowledge of being a racer in the world of F1, which would shine a new more focused perspective of races, drivers mentality, and more. Another role that seems increasingly likely is a situation where He is a part of Red Bull in an ambassador role, somewhat similar to 2022, but the difference is that he is no longer the reserve driver, merely a figurehead. This would make sense as Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, is known to have a strong liking for Daniel, making his position at Red Bull seemingly a guarantee, only we don’t know if he’ll take on that role.
Racing a New Type of Car
Another likely option is Riccardo taking the seat in a new race. He has flashed interest in NASCAR and it would be a good fit seeing his experience would put him at the top of racers in terms of experience, right out the gate. In addition, his popularity in the United States would boost revenue in the sport, helping to grow the fan base towards a sport often seen as the United States’ most popular form of racing. If NASCAR is not his answer, well he could head to the IndyCar series, which could put him on track to complete a triple crown, if he were to also race at Le Mans. Indy would be a good fit, as not only does it blend the technicality of racing like Formula 1, but it also has a unique championship that Riccardo would be able to succeed early in. Riccardo has stated “I won’t do ovals” which is not a permanent denial, as Romain Grosjean, once said something similar and ended up in IndyCar later on.
Retired or Pivot
Daniel Riccardo could end his career in Formula One and proceed to follow other pursuits. It's no surprise he doesn't need to work for the money, so now he can take time and focus on things that inspire him, without feeling the pressure of having to maintain a role in the racing world. In addition, with retirement or Pivoting to another industry, he opens the doors for new experiences which we could see come from him in the future. While a lot can be said, we won’t know exactly what his plan is, until he announces it. At the moment we’ll have to keep guessing.
