Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Daniel Ricciardo Comes Out of ‘Retirement’ to Launch a Business in Texas

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated Jun 21, 2025 5:09 AM ET

Daniel Ricciardo is back but not in the way you’d expect. The Formula 1 fan favorite has traded the paddock for the parking lot, launching a bold new business venture: Dabble Dan’s Tailgate Party in Austin, Texas.

Partnering with Australian betting company Dabble, Ricciardo is fronting a unique competition that will fly one lucky winner and a guest from any major UK airport to the United States for a full-blown American football weekend in September.

The prize includes flights, three nights’ accommodation, VIP tickets to the tailgate party, and a personal meet-and-greet with Ricciardo himself.

“I’ve given retirement a crack, but it’s not for me,” Ricciardo announced on Instagram. “So, I’ve teamed up with the legends at Dabble to start a tailgate business… Check it out at DabbleDan.com.”

In a video on the website, Ricciardo explained: “Bit of golf, a bit of gardening, caught up on sleep… but then I got that itch. I missed the buzz. The energy, That’s when it hit me—it was time I chased my true passion.”

The new project comes months after Ricciardo was officially dropped from F1 following the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.

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... Check it out at https://t.co/S20xXM51oA

What are you really gambling with? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit… pic.twitter.com/kHfXpAqonL
— Daniel Ricciardo (@danielricciardo) June 18, 2025

His last stint with Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri) failed to reignite his racing career after a challenging run with McLaren and a year as Red Bull’s reserve driver.

Whether this signals a permanent shift away from racing or just another Ricciardo-style detour remains to be seen. But one thing is clear—retirement for Dan isn’t about slowing down. It’s about firing up the grill, turning up the music, and turning parking lots into party zones.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: