Daniel Ricciardo enjoys time off from F1 with NFL star Josh Allen’s girlfriend and Hailee Steinfeld at Buffalo Bills’ thrilling win vs Miami Dolphins

Daniel Ricciardo, currently enjoying a sabbatical from Formula 1, was recently spotted attending the Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins game with actress Hailee Steinfeld. The game turned in favor of the former with the final score settling at 30 - 27.

Steinfeld is currently dating Bills' quarterback Josh Allen. The two have been together since May 2023. Both Steinfeld and Ricciardo were supporting the Bills during the game and were spotted wearing the team's merchandise. Steinfeld has attended multiple games this season.

Josh Allen and Daniel Ricciardo have been friends for a long time now. They met during the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix, the latter's first season after moving to Renault. The two reportedly met because their managers knew each other.

Ricciardo, who returned to racing full-time on the grid earlier this year with VCARB, is currently facing a career delimma. The Singapore Grand Prix marked the end of his season after the team replaced him with Liam Lawson for the remainder of the year, terminating his contract. With no confirmed seat for the foreseeable future, it remains uncertain whether Ricciardo will return to the F1 grid.

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Options falling short for Daniel Ricciardo as he refuses to return to the grid as a reserve driver

Ricciardo returned to Red Bull after mutually terminating his contract with McLaren at the end of the 2022 season. RBR then signed him as their third driver. At the time, he was hoping to eventually secure a permanent seat back in the team, especially considering their dominant form and championship prowess.

However, he refused to return to the role.

"No," Daniel Ricciardo said when asked if he would return to RBR in a reserve driver role.

"Obviously, last year it made a lot of sense to keep one foot in the door and obviously the big picture was to try and get back at Red Bull. I think if I was to do that again, there’s not really [much point]. I’m not going to restart my career," he added.

The Australian is arguably the driver with the most dedicated fan following. Known for his wide grin and witty personality, Ricciardo has amassed millions of followers over the years. However, even his popularity couldn't secure him a seat for the 2025 season.

None of the teams at the top have a vacancy for him. Red Bull has fixed a deal with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez (Liam Lawson if they replace the latter). Ferrari signed Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes picked their junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Hamilton's replacement. Meanwhile, McLaren are likely to carry on with their current lineup.

On the other hand, it remains uncertain whether Daniel Ricciardo would be willing to race with a backmarker team. As he has stated, he is not interested in "restarting" his career.

Currently, there has been no official announcement regarding Ricciardo's future plans.