Daniel Ricciardo has claimed that retirement is “not for me”, as the Aussie driver teams up with betting company Dabble to start his own tailgate service. The former F1 star has partnered up with the US-based company to give a few of his fans a chance to travel to Austin, Texas, for the purpose of a tailgate party.
A tailgate party is prominent in Aussie culture. It basically entails friends getting together for a barbecue, typically around the open tailgate of a vehicle. Daniel Ricciardo has now embraced this, teaming up with Dabble to facilitate his own tailgate party.
While announcing this move via Instagram, Ricciardo shared that retirement life was not for him.
“I’ve given retirement a crack, but It’s not for me. So, I’ve teamed up with the legends at Dabble to start a Tailgate business..”
Although indirectly, this is actually the first time that Ricciardo has officially announced himself as retired.
A few people over the age of 21 will get the chance to join Daniel Ricciardo in Austin, Texas, for a tailgate party at an American football match. Participants must submit a 25-word answer to the prompt “What would you bring to tailgate with Dan?” via an online form. The company is also referring to the competition as a “game of skill”, rather than lottery or gambling.
Other business ventures by Daniel Ricciardo amid F1 retirement
Daniel Ricciardo has also focused on other businesses ever since leaving the F1 world behind in 2024. The former Red Bull driver had already started his own clothing brand, and has now launched a new wine label as well.
Ricciardo first launched luxury apparel brand Enchante in 2021. In 2025, the Aussie has been working full time promoting the brand. The company recently launched a pop up store in Melbourne, during the Australian GP. They have also launched such stores in Austin, New York and Las Vegas previously.
Ricciardo also launched his own wine label, DR3, in partnership with St. Hugo winery, in 2021. In 2025, he has launched the latest collection under this label, named Enchante Rose. The former F1 star has also been promoting this via his social media in recent months.
Ricciardo is now spending time in his native Australia, after being removed from his Racing Bulls seat midway through the 2024 F1 season. He is building a post-retirement-type portfolio, focused on expanding his business ventures.
The 8-time F1 race winner is still often linked to multiple seats on the F1 grid. This includes the second Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen, and even a seat at the new F1 entry at Cadillac in 2026.
Many former drivers have returned to the sport after announcing their retirement before. But it is unlikely that Ricciardo will return to the sport, at least in the near future.
