Daniel Ricciardo is an Australian racing driver. His journey from karting circuits to the pinnacle of motorsport showcases determination, talent, and a love for speed. In this article, we will explore Daniel Ricciardo Net Worth, early years, career, personal life, controversies, awards and achievements.

Daniel Ricciardo Net Worth

Nickname:	Honey Badger
Real Name:	Daniel Joseph Ricciardo
Net Worth:	$50 million
Birthplace:	Perth, Western Australia
Weight:	69 kg
Sexual Orientation:	Straight
Marital Status:	Single
Spouse:	None
Children:	None
Girlfriend:	Heidi Berger
Date of Birth:	July 1, 1989
Gender:	Male
Height:	1.80 m
Profession:	Racing driver
Nationality:	Monacan
Source of Wealth:	Racing
Education:	Newman College
Father:	Joe Ricciardo
Mother:	Grace Ricciardo
Brother:	None
Sister:	Michelle Ricciardo

Early Years

Daniel Joseph Ricciardo was born July 1, 1989, in Perth, Western Australia, to Italian-Australian parents Grace and Giuseppe “Joe” Ricciardo. He was raised in a Catholic household in the Duncraig area with his sister, Michelle. Ricciardo’s passion for racing developed at a young age, fueled by his father’s racing at Wanneroo’s Barbagallo Raceway. At the age of nine, he began karting at the Tiger Kart Club and went on to attend Newman College.

Career

Daniel Ricciardo started racing karts with the Tiger Kart Club when he was nine years old. He progressed to Formula Ford in 2005, first competing in the Western Australian championship and then in the national series. In 2007, he competed in the Formula Renault 2.0 Italia before joining the Red Bull Junior Team.

Ricciardo made his Formula Three debut in 2008 with SG Formula in the Formula 3 Euro Series. In 2009, he joined Carlin Motorsport in the British Formula 3 Championship and competed in the prestigious Macau Grand Prix.

In 2010, Ricciardo joined Tech 1 Racing in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. He began well with pole positions and podium finishes, demonstrating his talent with victories at Monte Carlo, the Hungaroring, and the Hockenheimring. Despite a tough season, he narrowly lost the championship to Mikhail Aleshin.

Ricciardo began his Formula Renault 3.5 Series career with ISR Racing in 2011, before moving on to Formula One with HRT.

Formula One

Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula One career began in 2009 when he tested for Red Bull Racing and set the quickest time at the young driver test in Jerez. He remained as a test and reserve driver for Red Bull and Toro Rosso, demonstrating his speed and expertise. In 2011, he joined HRT for a few races before joining Toro Rosso as a test driver, finally securing a racing seat for the 2012 season alongside Jean-Éric Vergne.

During his tenure with Toro Rosso, Ricciardo demonstrated promise with his maiden points finish in the 2012 Australian Grand Prix and steady performances all season. He remained with Toro Rosso in 2013, gaining points in several races while outpacing his teammate. His outstanding performance earned him a promotion to Red Bull Racing for the 2014 season, replacing Mark Webber.

Daniel Ricciardo’s 2014 season with Red Bull Racing began with a great performance in the Australian Grand Prix, when he qualified second and finished second despite being disqualified for exceeding fuel flow limitations. He subsequently got his first points in Bahrain before finishing on the podium in Spain, Monaco, and Canada, where he won for the first time. This victory in Canada made him the fourth Australian to win a Grand Prix in Formula One.

Throughout the season, Ricciardo impressed with his performances, frequently surpassing his more experienced colleague Sebastian Vettel. He won two more races, the Hungarian and the Belgian Grand Prix, becoming the first Australian to win in Belgium since 1960. Ricciardo finished third in the drivers’ championship, highlighting his breakout season with Red Bull Racing.

2019-2020

Daniel Ricciardo’s transfer to Renault for the 2019 and 2020 Formula One seasons brought both obstacles and successes. His first year with Renault began poorly, with early retirements in Australia and Bahrain owing to car troubles. However, he rebounded with a memorable first Q3 performance in China, finishing eighth and earning his first points for Renault. The season had its ups and downs, including an accident in Azerbaijan and penalties at the French Grand Prix that knocked him out of point-scoring positions.

Despite setbacks such as exhaust failure in Germany and a dismal Hungarian Grand Prix, Ricciardo delivered solid performances, finishing fourth at the Italian Grand Prix, his best result of the season. He finished the season in ninth place overall, ahead of teammate Nico Hulkenberg.

Ricciardo experienced early hurdles in 2020, with Esteban Ocon as his new teammate, including retirements in Austria and poor results in subsequent races. However, he showed constant improvement, culminating in a podium finish at the Eifel Grand Prix, Renault’s first since 2011. He maintained his great form with another podium at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and won points steadily throughout the season, culminating with a fifth-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Ricciardo concluded the season fifth in the championship standings with 119 points, demonstrating his perseverance and competitive attitude during his time at Renault.

2021-2023

Daniel Ricciardo joins McLaren in 2021, succeeding Carlos Sainz Jr., who went to Ferrari. Ricciardo’s season began with sixth-place qualifying in the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he finished seventh despite floor damage caused by a collision. He improved to sixth at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and finished ninth in Portugal after starting sixteenth. Ricciardo finished fifth at the Spanish Grand Prix, sixth at Monaco, and ninth in Azerbaijan after crashing during qualifying. He finished sixth in France, thirteenth in Styria (due to a power outage), and seventh in Austria.

Ricciardo made his breakthrough by winning the Italian Grand Prix, leading a McLaren one-two, and finishing fourth in Russia. He began last in Turkey owing to penalties and finished thirteenth.

Daniel mutually terminated his contract with McLaren in August 2022, declaring after qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix that he would not be racing in 2023. He finished fifth at the Singapore Grand Prix, his highest performance of the 2022 season, and seventh at the Mexico City Grand Prix, despite receiving a penalty. Ricciardo concluded his McLaren career with a ninth-place finish in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, placing him tenth in the Drivers’ Championship.

Ricciardo joins Red Bull Racing as a third driver for the 2023 season, where he will concentrate on public relations, simulators, and factory support, including Pirelli tests at Silverstone. Mid-season, he transferred to AlphaTauri to replace Nyck de Vries, returning to race with Yuki Tsunoda beginning with the Hungarian Grand Prix. He experienced setbacks, including missing races due to a hand injury acquired during practice for the Dutch Grand Prix. Ricciardo returned for the United States Grand Prix, qualifying fourth in Mexico City and finishing seventh overall.

2024

In 2024, AlphaTauri was rebranded RB Formula One Team, with Ricciardo and Tsunoda remaining. He started the season with finishes outside the points, including 13th in Bahrain and 16th in Saudi Arabia. Ricciardo improved to 12th place at his home Grand Prix in Australia following a difficult qualifying session. He experienced additional issues at the Japanese Grand Prix, retiring early after colliding with Alex Albon. In the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race, he finished 11th and retired from the main race after colliding with Lance Stroll, earning him a grid penalty for the next race. Ricciardo earned points in the Miami Grand Prix sprint, but finished 15th in the main race. He made it to Q3 for the first time at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, but ended 13th after a tough race.

Personal Life

Ricciardo is well-known for his passion of motorsports, particularly NASCAR, and his favourite race number, three, honours Dale Earnhardt. He is also a supporter of the Australian Football League’s West Coast Eagles and the UFC. Ricciardo is dating Heidi Berger, the daughter of Gerhard Berger, a former Formula One racer.

Ricciardo owns a $4.8 million home in Monaco and a $1.1 million mansion in Perth. He has endorsement partnerships with a number of companies, including Amazon, GoPro, Puma, and Aston Martin, and has his own clothing line, RIC3, and wine label, DR3.

In 2023, he started co-hosting “The Grandstand with Daniel Ricciardo and Will Arnett” on ESPN2.

Ricciardo has contributed to various philanthropic projects, including the Wings for Life campaign, Racing for MNDi, and the Australian Red Cross. He’s also auctioned off his race gear and an Aston Martin V8 to benefit charity.

Controversies

Ricciardo created controversy in 2020 when he criticised Formula One’s emphasis on collisions, claiming it was potentially dangerous and only appealing to youngsters. He then apologised for his remarks.

In 2018, Ricciardo signed a two-year contract with Renault at an incredible $35 million per year.
His last contract with Red Bull paid him $6 million a year.

In 2022, he was accused of stealing recording studio equipment from Black Motion’s offices, sparking controversy.
Legal representatives stated that the equipment belonged to Spirit Motion, a joint company between Ricciardo and Thabo Smol.

Awards and Achievements

Daniel Ricciardo has received numerous accolades throughout his career. He was awarded the BRDC Bruce McLaren Trophy in 2013, 2014, and 2016. In 2014, he received multiple honors, including the Trofeo Lorenzo Bandini, Confartigianato Motori Driver of the Year, GQ Australia Sportsman of the Year, and the BRDC Innes Ireland Trophy. He again won the BRDC Innes Ireland Trophy in 2015. Ricciardo was honored with the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough Performance of the Year in 2015 and was named Confartigianato Motori Driver of the Year again in 2018. In 2022, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Australia Day Honours.

Frequently Asked Questions About Daniel Ricciardo

1. What is Daniel Ricciardo’s nationality?

Australian

2. When was Daniel Ricciardo born?

July 1, 1989

3. Where was Daniel Ricciardo born?

Perth, Western Australia

4. What is Daniel Ricciardo’s occupation?

Formula One driver

5. Is Daniel Ricciardo in a relationship?

Yes, with Heidi Berger

6. What is Daniel Ricciardo’s nickname?

The Honey Badger

7. What is Daniel Ricciardo’s best finish in the Formula One World Championship?

Third (2014, 2016)

8. How many Formula One races has Daniel Ricciardo won?

Eight

9. What is Daniel Ricciardo’s favorite racing number?

Three

10. Who is Daniel Ricciardo’s favorite Formula One driver of all time?

Dale Earnhardt

11. What is Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth?

$50 million

12. How tall is Daniel Ricciardo?

180 cm (5 ft 11 in)

13. What is Daniel Ricciardo’s weight?

69 kg (152 lbs)