Daniel Ricciardo has been heavily linked with a move to America as his next challenge after his Formula 1 exit.
The Aussie was dropped by Red Bull’s junior team RB after the Singapore Grand Prix to make way for Liam Lawson, who will race the final six events of 2024 ahead of a potential permanent seat in 2025.
Now aged 35 and ruling out any possibility of returning to a reserve driver role – which he did back in 2023 with Red Bull after his sacking from McLaren the year prior – it looks as if Ricciardo’s F1 career is all but over.
Debuting in the sport midway through 2011 with backmarkers HRT, the Aussie went on to race for the likes of Toro Rosso, Red Bull and Renault as he made 257 race starts, won eight races and grabbed three pole positions and 32 podiums.
Alex Albon sees Daniel Ricciardo huge links to the US as a reason for the Aussie moving to NASCAR
Speculation has been rife as to where Ricciardo will go to next after F1, with several rumours linking him with a move to the States.
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Ricciardo has said that IndyCar ‘scares’ him and seems to have, for now at least, ruled out the idea of him joining the category.
NASCAR has also been a strong link, with Ricciardo previously expressing his desire to race Daytona after his days in F1 come to an end. Damon Hill has predicted Ricciardo to move over to NASCAR, but stressed that he has to have the love for the sport if he is to compete in it.
And speaking with Motorsport Brasil, Hill’s prediction was echoed by Williams driver Alex Albon, who believes that the stock car racing series will be the next destination for Ricciardo.
Speaking about the Aussie departure from RB, the Thai driver said: “I feel for Daniel. I think he’s a super driver as well, more than anything else.
“I’m sure he’s going to find his feet and do something, I don’t know what that would be. I could see him doing something like NASCAR or something.
“I see him as someone who… he enjoys his life and he has such huge links with the US, so I could see something like that.”
Could Daniel Ricciardo move to NASCAR for 2025?
Albon is absolutely right about Ricciardo links to the US, given that he is incredibly popular in the nation thanks to the impact of Netflix’s Drive to Survive.
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With IndyCar seemingly off the table for Ricciardo due to his own fears, it looks like NASCAR is more likely. But if the Aussie is scared by IndyCar, then he is in for some surprise if he does move to the Cup Series.
With the sheer speed of the cars and tightly packed action on ridiculous ovals as well as road courses, Ricciardo will certainly be in for a challenge, but it could be the right move for him and his career.
The 35-year-old can live his dream of racing in America, whilst also basking in his popularity in the country. It is also hard to imagine that any team on the NASCAR grid would not be willing to give Ricciardo a drive, given the huge marketability he has from his time In F1.