MUSINGS FROM THE TJ13 NOTEBOOK – Daniel Ricciardo’s post-retirement career move? Fans say: “You’ve really dabbled too far, mate!”, from shoeys to sportsbooks, the Australian icon has traded champagne for controversy – There was a time when Daniel Ricciardo could do no wrong. His infectious grin, shoey celebrations and larrikin charm made him the darling of Formula 1, even as his career slid from podiums to pit wall appearances.
But just when it seemed like Ricciardo had gracefully bowed out of the spotlight, he roared back into relevance with a career move that has left fans rubbing their eyes in disbelief and their temples in frustration. Yes, folks — Daniel Ricciardo is now the smiling face of online sports gambling. And social media is not happy about it.
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Tailgates, tips, and total confusion
Announced with all the pomp and cringe of a Super Bowl Doritos advert, Ricciardo unveiled his latest post-retirement venture: a collaboration with the Australian betting platform Dabble. The campaign, titled The Ultimate Texas Tailgate with Daniel Ricciardo, promises an all-expenses-paid NFL experience for lucky winners from Australia, the US or the UK, complete with flights, hotel accommodation, VIP tickets and, of course, quality time with Ricciardo himself.
The promotion has been presented as a way to ‘bring the fans closer to the action’. But fans weren’t convinced by Dabble Dan.
Within minutes of Ricciardo’s post hitting the digital airwaves, the backlash came flying in harder than a Verstappen dive bomb at Monza.
“I’ve given retirement a crack,’ Ricciardo wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “but it’s not for me. So, I’ve teamed up with the legends at Dabble…”
Legends? Legends of what, morally ambiguous branding opportunities?
From Red Bull to red flags
The irony was hard to miss. Ricciardo had spent years charming audiences with his everyman appeal — he was just a laid-back guy from Perth who happened to race F1 cars for a living. However, promoting a product synonymous with addiction, financial ruin and late-night regret now felt more like a midlife crisis than a marketing coup.
The reaction? Less “welcome back” and more “what the hell, Dan?”
One user, @mereeedithh, summed it up in a tweet: “Sports gambling now? Nah, pack it up.”
@MagpieMetalcore followed up with a brutal remark worthy of an old-school Mark Webber team radio message: “Seriously, mate? Is money that tight? Out of all the things you could put your name and face on, you chose gambling? So bloody disappointing.”
Even Ricciardo’s most loyal fans were struggling to defend this. “Come on, mate,’ wrote @Wombats08.
“I’m a massive fan, but this isn’t something good to put your name to. Gambling destroys lives.”
The general consensus? Somewhere between ‘This ain’t it, chief” and “Mate, did you accidentally hit ‘accept deal’ while sleepwalking through LinkedIn?”
The house always wins, but does Dan?
Now, let’s be fair. Ricciardo isn’t exactly launching a pyramid scheme in a warehouse off the M25. He’s promoting tailgating: Beer, barbecues and betting. It’s the holy trinity of American sports culture. In isolation, that might be harmless.
But in context? In 2025, when sports gambling is under global scrutiny for targeting vulnerable audiences and Australians are alleged to be the world leaders in gambling losses?
That’s not just a red flag. It’s like waving the chequered flag straight into the moral gravel trap.
“Yikes,” wrote @BFLYdownunder, probably while clutching a copy of The Sydney Morning Herald.
“Considering Aussies have the highest losses per capita in the world and a high rate of teenagers on gambling sites, this isn’t it, DR!”
Dabble Dan or Double Down Dan?
Of course, Ricciardo’s team probably assumed this would be a harmless venture. A nostalgic nod to Americana, a splash of NFL spectacle and a ‘cheeky flutter’ to spice up game day. But if they expected a few playful jabs and ironic memes, they were sorely mistaken.
One particularly confused user summed up the mood best: “Well, unretire for real, you c$nts, ain’t it?” tweeted @scdriaricciardo — a message so raw and garbled that it practically deserves a Grammy nomination in the ‘Disappointment and Dismay’ category.
The backlash isn’t just about betting, though. It’s about image. Ricciardo was one of the sport’s good guys. Not squeaky clean, but down-to-earth. Relatable.
He was the guy who sang ‘A Whole New World’ with Lando Norris and made post-race interviews feel like a chat in the pub. Now, however, he has essentially become a walking sportsbook pop-up.
The PR gamble that might not pay out
So where does that leave Ricciardo? Probably cashing a cheque larger than the budget for a Ferrari wind tunnel, but at what cost?
He once famously said, “I’m just going to have fun. That’s when I’m at my best.”
But aligning your brand with a controversial online betting company at a time when concerns about gambling addiction are growing feels less like “fun” and more like a game of roulette where all the slots say “Bad Press”.
If you’re wondering whether Ricciardo is paying attention to the noise, he probably is. But there has been silence since the initial tweet. There has been no follow-up, no clarification and no explanation.
A classic Ricciardo response would be to crack a joke, post a meme or share a tongue-in-cheek video of him in a cowboy hat, sipping beer and pretending to throw dice. But maybe not this time. After all, the stakes are higher than ever. In the court of public opinion, the house doesn’t always win.
From Grids to Grits
Daniel Ricciardo has made millions doing what most of us can only dream of — driving some of the fastest cars in the world and becoming a global sports icon. So when he steps off the track and into the chaos of post-racing life, a little fumbling is to be expected.
But promoting gambling to a fanbase that includes young followers, aspiring racers and parents who used to hold him up as the ‘nice guy’ of F1?
There’s still time for Ricciardo to steer this bus away from the cliff — he could launch a BBQ sauce line or an F1-themed podcast about funny grid stories, for example. Anything, really. Just not something that comes with an 1800 helpline number at the bottom of the promo.
Because right now? Dan’s not gambling with money.
He’s gambling with his legacy.
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I lost a lot of respect for Daniel after this move. THe last thing the world needs is more gambling. It ruins lives and families.