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Daniel Ricciardo has come under fire from fans after launching a tongue-in-cheek promotion with an Australian betting app.
The recently retired Formula One star posted a video to social media announcing a new 'tailgate' business.
What looked like a light-hearted comeback quickly turned sour when followers discovered it was part of a gambling promotion.
In the video posted to X, Ricciardo is shown lounging in a deck chair, declaring, 'Retirement ain't what it's cracked up to be.'
He jokes about being bored with hitting golf balls and looking for a 'real passion project'.
'I love my football and I love a good time. Now it's time for me to do both,' he said.
Daniel Ricciardo retired from F1 in 2025 with eight wins and a legacy of entertaining driving
Ricciardo relaxes in a deck chair before announcing his surprise 'tailgate' comeback in a new video
The Aussie F1 favourite claimed retirement was boring and said he needed a new 'passion project' urgently
Ricciardo then announces the launch of his own tailgate business in partnership with Dabble.
The video ends with Ricciardo encouraging fans to 'get the party started' by visiting DabbleDan.com.
But the website doesn't promote a business venture from Ricciardo at all. Instead, it's a global competition to win the Ultimate Texas Tailgate experience.
The prize includes flights, accommodation, and tickets to NFL matches – with Ricciardo as host.
While the video was clearly intended as satire, not everyone found it amusing, with many fans left frustrated by Ricciardo's decision to align with a gambling company.
'Don't promote something that destroys lives, do something positive. Please,' one follower wrote.
Another commented, 'We're truly going to look back at these gambling ads someday in the way that we look back at cigarette ads now.'
One follower simply wrote, 'Money badger strikes again,' a play on Ricciardo's old nickname, the Honey Badger.
Fans discovered the business is part of a gambling promotion for a travel prize giveaway
One fan wrote, 'Surely you don't need the money that badly,' while others called the move disappointing
'What a shame. You're shilling for a gambling company. JFC. Surely you don't need the money that badly,' said another.
Critics were particularly upset because Dabble is a social betting platform. It allows users to place bets, follow others, and share tips in a community-driven feed.
While popular with younger audiences, the platform's marketing tactics have raised questions.
Gambling reform advocates argue such content normalises wagering through humour and celebrity endorsement.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australians lose roughly $25billion each year to legal gambling.
Other estimates place total losses closer to $31.5billion, making Australia's gambling losses the highest per capita in the world.
'Seriously mate? Money that tight is it? So bloody disappointing,' another angry fan posted.
The criticism comes just months after Ricciardo quietly stepped away from fulltime Formula One racing.
Critics hit out at Ricciardo for promoting gambling during a time of rising industry scrutiny in Australia
He made his F1 debut in 2011 and soon established himself as one of the sport's most exciting drivers.
A move to Toro Rosso in 2012 showed his promise, but it was his 2014 switch to Red Bull Racing that launched his career into the spotlight.
Ricciardo won three Grands Prix in his debut season at Red Bull, finishing third in the world championship.
Known for his daring overtakes and wide smile, he added wins in Malaysia (2016), Azerbaijan (2017), and Monaco (2018).
In 2019, he left for Renault, aiming to rebuild a struggling team. While wins proved elusive, he secured two podiums in 2020 and earned respect as a leader.
He joined McLaren in 2021 and delivered their first win in nearly a decade at Monza. But inconsistent form in 2022 led to his exit.
After a reserve role with Red Bull in 2023, Ricciardo returned mid-season with AlphaTauri.
The results didn't improve, and he quietly retired from full-time racing in 2025.
