Coulthard Warns Ricciardo to Maintain F1 Celebrity Status

Former F1 driver David Coulthard has advised Daniel Ricciardo to pursue a media career to maintain his celebrity status following his exit from Red Bull's junior team VCARB after the 2024 season. Coulthard emphasized that while Ricciardo has a vibrant personality that adds value to F1, racing is ultimately determined by performance, which has not been favorable for Ricciardo recently. Despite being a fan favorite, Ricciardo has not shown interest in returning to competitive racing and has kept a low profile since his departure. Coulthard believes Ricciardo should not take a year off and expect to remain relevant without engaging with fans through media or punditry. The Australian driver, known for his charismatic presence in the sport and on the Netflix series Drive to Survive, has left the door open for potential future endeavors but has not publicly committed to any plans yet. As the 2025 season approaches, speculation continues about Ricciardo's next steps in motorsport.