Daniel Ricciardo sparks retirement buzz with cryptic social media post

Daniel Ricciardo, the charismatic Australian Formula 1 driver, has sparked fresh rumours about his future after a recent Instagram post appeared to hint at his retirement. The 35-year-old former Red Bull racer, who was dropped after the Singapore Grand Prix last month, might be signalling the end of his F1 career with a subtle yet telling message on his cap.

Ricciardo was seen in an Instagram story posted by his friend and motocross rider, Adam Cianciarulo. In the post, Ricciardo wears a cap that reads, "I’m retired – having a good time is my job." This cheeky statement has ignited speculation that the much-loved driver may be stepping away from the grid for good, despite widespread curiosity about his future.

Check out the post here:

Daniel Ricciardo confirming that he is not doing other series?🤔

Daniel’s 🧢 message: “I'm retired…having a good time is my job” pic.twitter.com/Ze6Snwjau4

— Marc🏎 (@433_marc) October 15, 2024

Having spent 14 years in Formula 1 with teams such as Red Bull, McLaren, Renault, and HRT, Ricciardo has been one of the sport's fan favourites, known for his infectious personality and bold driving style. However, after enduring two challenging seasons with poor results, the Australian found himself replaced by young Kiwi driver Liam Lawson for the remainder of the 2024 season.

Will Daniel Ricciardo find a seat somewhere?

In light of these developments, many fans and pundits believe Ricciardo’s latest post confirms that his F1 chapter is over. Following his last race in Singapore, Ricciardo himself admitted that his return to the sport had not gone as planned.

He had hoped to rejoin Red Bull and fight at the front of the grid again but acknowledged, "Obviously, it didn’t come to fruition." He also made it clear that he did not want to linger in the sport if he couldn’t compete at the highest level, stating, "I don’t want to come back just to be on the grid."

With no contract in place for 2025 and limited opportunities at the top teams, Ricciardo’s future in F1 remains uncertain. But his appeal goes beyond the race track. Many believe his larger-than-life personality could open doors in media or broadcasting. Additionally, there’s significant interest in his potential move to other motorsport disciplines.

Supercars, Australia’s premier touring car championship, has already expressed interest in Ricciardo’s potential involvement. Shane Howard, the head of Supercars, said last week, "We would certainly like to have him in one of our cars, 100 per cent we would." Howard praised Ricciardo's racing talent and magnetic presence, stating that his addition to Supercars would be "very special."