Former Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo‘s Aston Martin Valkyrie is set to be auctioned in October, which could potentially bring him up to $3.2 million. Only 150 units of the rare hypercar were offered for sale.
Ricciardo’s Valkyrie is the 89th unit, and his hypercar’s color code has been nicknamed ‘Badger Blue,’ based on his ‘Honey Badger’ nickname. Speaking of the car, it has been developed in collaboration with Red Bull Racing Advanced Technologies, with a significant contribution from F1’s top aero guru, Adrian Newey.
The Valkyrie is road legal, and the main purpose behind developing it is to offer owners a feel of the racing world. Even the cockpit reminds one of an F1 car with a removable steering wheel. Coming to the numbers, the car is powered by a 6.5-liter V12 engine built by Cosworth, producing 1,160 bhp.
That, combined with a total weight of 1,270 kilograms and an aerodynamic design, makes it astonishingly fast, reaching 0-60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds. The top speed is estimated to be around 250 mph (402 km/h).
Ricciardo’s Valkyrie seems like it came straight out of the dealer, considering that it has only been driven 160 kilometers. His car will be offered at the Zoute Concours auction in Knokke, Belgium, on October 10, 2025.
The Australian driver has been away from the F1 scene after his ousting from Racing Bulls (then VCARB) in 2024. Ricciardo’s goal was to get promoted to the seat alongside Max Verstappen from Red Bull’s junior F1 team. However, his lackluster performance led to his exit.
Since then, he has confirmed he is unlikely to return to the premier class of motorsport, despite the huge fan following he attracts. Speaking on his life after F1 at a recent real estate event where he was invited as a speaker, Ricciardo said:
“Well I haven’t been shaving my face. The beard is my comfort right now. This year has been a bit of self-exploration. I lived this crazy high-speed life for so long and this year I’ve sat into a little bit of stillness.
“I’ve had a lot of time, I’ve done some hiking. I was in Alaska a few weeks ago and didn’t get mauled by a grizzly which was a bonus. I’ve been trying to figure out who I am other than this race car driver.
“I’ve come to appreciate the little thing more and the meaning of the importance of family and friends.
“I’ve always been driven and that sometimes leads you to being selfish, so I’m trying to learn to be a bit more selfless and become a better listener.”
The post Daniel Ricciardo’s Mega-Money Aston Martin Hypercar Hits Auction appeared first on Newsweek.
