Daniel Ricciardo has been told that his next job should be in television and the former VCARB driver would be wise to turn down any opportunities to stay in motorsport after being dropped for Liam Lawson.
Red Bull's sister team confirmed on Thursday (September 26) that Ricciardo will not drive for them in the six remaining races of the 2024 season, with Lawson given an opportunity to impress, having been beaten by the Aussie to the seat previously vacated by Nyck de Vries.
Ricciardo has proven to be a popular figure on track, highlighted by the outpouring of support following the news of his dismissal. He was credited with playing a big part in the sport's boom in the United States through the Netflix docuseries 'Drive to Survive' and a return to the small screen may be his best course of action.
That's according to Giedo van der Garde, who raced for Caterham in the 2013 F1 campaign before trying his hand at the FIA World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Dutchman later moved into TV and works for Viaplay as a F1 analyst, now prompting Ricciardo to make the same decision.
"If he really wants to keep racing, I know a lot [of drivers] are going to do Endurance," Van der Garde said on . "That guy should just start making television because he is a personality. I also think he will do very well. He will do a bit of marketing."
Ricciardo did not confirm where his next gig will be, only teasing "until the next adventure" in his emotional statement.
Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko has explained why Ricciardo lost his seat and speculated on where the 35-year-old may end up next, though he reportedly will stay among the team's pool of drivers for now.
"He is, especially in the United States, one of the most popular Formula 1 drivers," Marko told Motorsport-Total.
The Red Bull chief replied "I don't believe that" when asked about the prospect of Ricciardo switching to a different racing class, such as NASCAR, and played down the suggestion of him becoming an ambassador: "On the other hand, if he is no longer an active driver, I don't know if he would then feel like doing those PR activities."
Ricciardo's endearing nature has seen him become a fan favourite on Sky Sports F1 broadcasts, with Van der Garde among the many who believe he could make a seamless transition if he is prepared to quit racing for good.
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