Daniel Ricciardo F1 RETURN verdict emerges

Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo F1 RETURN verdict emerges

Speculation over the axed former Red Bull and McLaren star just won't go away

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Tuesday 18 February 2025 22:00

As speculation over Daniel Ricciardo's Formula 1 future persists, the axed star has been handed a big warning from a former Red Bull star.

Ricciardo of course had the most success in his career during his Red Bull days, taking seven grands prix victories during his time with the team and proving a match for then up-and-coming star Max Verstappen.

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However, since leaving Red Bull ahead of the 2019 season, things have not panned out well for Ricciardo.

He has only racked up one further grand prix win since, and at present has no place in the sport after being fired by Visa Cash App Racing Bulls last season.

Daniel Ricciardo achieved one grand prix win with McLaren at the 2021 Italian GP before being axed

Daniel Ricciardo was dropped from VCARB in 2024 and has seemingly retired from F1

Daniel Ricciardo warned over F1 return

“There’s no question Daniel, what eight grand prix victories, great overtaker, but the way his career petered out is what would make me hold on to keeping my silence," Coulthard said.

“If he has still got racing on his mind, then he's got to find a race championship, I think that there's no question he would be an asset for a Formula 1 team in terms of personality.

David Coulthard has interviewed F1 stars like Daniel Ricciardo in his punditry role after his retirement from the sport

"But this isn't a personality contest, it's a stopwatch contest, you've got to acknowledge McLaren didn't work out and then the comeback with VCARB didn't work out either."

Coulthard continued: "But he has been gifted a period of time in Formula 1 where the popularity and growth has been such that he's a celebrity beyond being a driver.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he has already worked out that working within the media space will keep that celebrity.

"What I would recommend he doesn't do is think that he can sort of take a year out and then come back and still be as interesting."

Red Bull Max Verstappen Mercedes Daniel Ricciardo F1 Visa Cash App Racing Bulls