“Retired” Perth-born Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo is rumoured to be looking at a move up north.
The eight-time Grand Prix winner has been out of work since leaving the world of F1 in 2024.
Ricciardo, who has since signed a multitude of commercial agreements that don’t really seem to require him to do a whole lot of work but still get him paid generous sums, is said to be eying a job as a Caterpillar 797 driver in WA’s north-west.
A source close to the Ricciardo family said Daniel was browsing Reddit’s r/ausfinance page for an easy way to add to his already ample Commonwealth Bank Dollarmites account when he spotted a discussion about working on the mines.
“Daniel sent through his resume that day,” the source said.
“He went through the advert and everything lined up with his background: 19 years professional driving, experience working with a boss who can be a little too eager with the younger lady workers, can down a shoe of champagne in 3 seconds. Tick, tick, tick.”
Ricciardo’s exit from Formula 1 came after 13 years in the sport and at his peak he demanded upwards of $30 million a year.
However a sudden and persistent decline in form after 2020 led to an unceremonious “retirement” during the 2024 season.
I say “retirement” in quotes because he “retired” in the same way that my 68-year-old uncle “retired” from his medical practice after being caught writing up one too many ketamine prescriptions.
Despite the F1 exit, Ricciardo has managed to keep up a healthy wage by selling his face to just about any company that can put a paper bag of cash under his not insignificant honker and tempt him to take a sniff.
That includes to: Optus, St Hugo wines, GoPro, Stance, Blue Coast Brewing, Ford and, in June, to this weird, sorta maybe dodgy – or at the very least socially dubious – gambling company.
Like, come on mate – do better.
One fan, Ryan, a lifelong Ricciardo backer who closely watched the painful decline of a once-promising, loveable Aussie icon, said a mine-site job would be absolutely on brand.
“Sitting on his arse eating a snickers bar, downing a Dare Iced Coffee, all day for $190,000p/a,” he said.
“Such is the decline of a formerly inspirational figure.
“You know, I watched Ricciardo for years.
“The Hungarian round of the 2010 Formula Renault 3.5 Series – one of the greatest drives I’ve ever seen. In any series. A new race-fastest lap nearly every lap. He got pole, won and led every lap.
“I nearly cried when Jon Lancaster took him out on the grid at that year’s Silverstone round – an incident that eventually cost him the title that year.
“Then in Formula 1 – he essentially ended Vettel’s career. He matched Verstappen as team-mates, and was probably the best driver over the season in 2020.
“And now he gets by selling his face to any brand that comes along. Heaven forbid if Fleshlight™ or Durex™ get him on the blower.”
Ryan sighed.
“I just don’t know what to believe in anymore.”
