Daniel Ricciardo is one of the most charismatic drivers on the Formula 1 grid with a trademark huge smile, so here is everything to know on the Visa Cash App RB pilot.
The Australian is seldom seen without an enormous grin across his face and is loved by fans for his nice-guy persona. But Ricciardo also adopted the nickname ‘The Honey Badger’ back in 2014, having felt undervalued by his rival Formula 1 drivers who mistook his cheery ways.
Ricciardo adopted his ‘Honey Badger’ nickname following Red Bull promoting him from their junior Toro Rosso team to replace compatriot Mark Webber. He was a product of the team’s driver programme and stayed in the family in F1 from 2012 to 2017, while returning in 2023.
Daniel Ricciardo is a boisterous product of Red Bull’s driver academy
It was actually with HRT for whom Ricciardo made his debut in Formula 1 at the 2011 British GP, though. Red Bull secured him a seat at the struggling Spanish squad in the middle of the season. A switch to Toro Rosso followed in 2012, with whom Ricciardo again races for today.
Two disappointing seasons at McLaren in 2021 and 2022 left Ricciardo without a race seat in Formula 1. So, he returned to Milton Keynes as Red Bull’s reserve driver before his chance to return to Faenza arose as AlphaTauri replaced Nyck de Vries from the 2023 Hungarian GP.
Ricciardo’s efforts, amid an injury-hit season after breaking his hand in practice at the Dutch GP, secured him a full-time seat beside Yuki Tsunoda in 2024 as AlphaTauri transitioned into Visa Cash App RB. But his return to Faenza came with the goal of returning to Red Bull after.
The emergence of Max Verstappen saw Ricciardo leave Red Bull for Renault in 2019. But the switch to Enstone did not pay off as he only added podiums at the 2020 Eifel GP and Emilia Romagna GP to his CV. Ricciardo had also already agreed to join McLaren for the 2021 term.
Daniel Ricciardo has won F1 Grand Prix with Red Bull and McLaren
McLaren signed Ricciardo up during the delayed start to the 2020 season to replace Carlos Sainz in 2021. His CV still looked strong after a tough first year for Renault, having won seven races for Red Bull. But Ricciardo could never get to grips with the front end of McLaren’s car.
The Woking squad, ultimately, paid Ricciardo off to leave the team a year early to sign Oscar Piastri for 2023. Ricciardo won McLaren their first race since the 2012 Brazilian GP with the Italian GP in 2021. But his second term in Papaya saw Ricciardo finish 11th in the standings.
Ricciardo took his first race win during his first season for Red Bull at the 2014 Canadian GP and returned to the top step of the podium at that year’s Hungarian GP and Belgian GP. The Australian also won the Chinese GP and Monaco GP during his last year for Red Bull in 2018.
Daniel Ricciardo enjoyed slim championship success in his junior career
Success came early in Ricciardo’s racing career, too. He won the Intercontinental A class title in the Australian CIK Championship Series in just his second season in go-karts during 2005. He then moved into single-seaters and took third in the Formula BMW Asia 2006 standings.
Another title arrived at Ricciardo’s race boots in 2008 as he secured the Formula Renault 2.0 WEC crown and took second in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. Yet his 2009 British Formula 3 Championship title so far remains the boisterous racer’s most recent crowning achievement.
But who really is Ricciardo and what is the Visa Cash App RB driver’s life outside of Formula 1 like? F1 Oversteer looks at everything you need to know about the Australian racing hero…
How old is Daniel Ricciardo? What is the Visa Cash App RB driver’s age?
At the time of writing, Daniel Ricciardo is 34 years old. The Visa Cash App RB star was born on July 1, 1989 to parents dad, Giuseppe ‘Joe’ Ricciardo, and his mother, Grace Pulitano. The Formula 1 star also has one sister, Michelle. Ricciardo’s father also once drove in local races.
Where was Daniel Ricciardo born? What is his nationality?
Daniel Ricciardo was born in Perth, Western Australia, but also has dual nationality through his parents. His dad was born in Ficarra, Sicily but moved to the country in Oceania with his family at seven. His mum is also first-generation Italian as her parents came from Casignana.
The Ricciardo family lived in the Duncraig superb of Perth through Daniel’s youth, where he also started racing go-karts aged nine. While Ricciardo moved to Italy as a teenager to forge his racing career and speaks Italian. He further loves the Italian traditions and family values.
How tall is Daniel Ricciardo? What is his height in feet?
Daniel Ricciardo is 1.79m tall, or 5 ft 10 in feet, placing him just above the average of 1.77m (5 ft 9) for the 2024 F1 grid. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda (1.59m, 5 ft 2), is also the smallest.
Daniel Ricciardo’s girlfriend, Heidi Berger
Daniel Ricciardo and girlfriend, Heidi Berger, made their relationship public in August 2022 but are believed to have started dating in 2019. She is the daughter of ex-Benetton, Ferrari and McLaren Formula 1 driver, Gerhard Berger, while her mother, Ana Corvo, was a model.
Heidi was born on April 4, 1997 and also has an elder sister called Sara Maria. She grew up in Monaco but moved to London to study theatre. Berger is an actress and made her debut in 2016 in the soap opera, ‘A Unica Mulher’. Her character also appeared in 188 episodes.
Daniel Ricciardo’s net worth
Daniel Ricciardo is the fourth-richest driver on the 2024 Formula 1 grid with a net worth of $96m (£76m), per PlanetF1, as of January 2024. He has boosted his wealth over the years with endorsements from brands including Beats, St Hugo and Singtel Optus among others.
Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career stats
As of the end of the 2023 Formula 1 campaign, Visa Cash App RB driver Daniel Ricciardo has entered 240 and started 239 Grand Prix. The Australian penned his debut at the 2011 British GP, sealed a first win at the 2014 Canadian GP and got his first pole at the 2016 Monaco GP.
The post Visa Cash App RB driver Daniel Ricciardo’s life outside of F1 from net worth to girlfriend appeared first on F1 Oversteer.
