Credit: F1
For the longest time, there were rumour mills constantly serving us gravepine and half-hearted truth with respect to Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo's comeback to the racing grid in Formula 1 (F1). Or in other words, that he'd be back and with vengeance, marking a return to Motorsport's top flight! However, in just a few hours after the celebrated Australian driver announced his retirement from Formula 1 racing, he also shed light on a brand new role in the sport. This time around, however, not in the capacity of an F1 driver but in a new scheme of things.
So the big news at this time, with the Italian Grand Prix weekend currently underway, is that Daniel Ricciardo has associated himself with an ambassadorial role in F1. He has now become the ambassador for Ford Racing.
Celebrated widely as among the last of the late brakers in F1, the former Red Bull driver won amazing races at various tracks such as Hungary, China, Azerbaijan, Monaco, among others but after a weak stint with McLaren, he had found wanting and even in his move to Racing Bulls, there wasn't much that Ricciardo could do.
While my racing days are behind me, my passion for anything with wheels will always remain: Daniel Ricciardo
That being told, Daniel Ricciardo will serve the sport in the capacity of an ambassador for Ford, who had previously been in F1, before stepping away for several years together. After it was confirmed that Ford would return to the sport next year, i.e., 2026, there were a few salient developments that had been in the works, anyway. One among them, as it turns out, is the Aussie driver's association with a giant constructor in the sport.
The following insight is what Ricciardo had to offer in the public domain in connection to what is an F1 return of sorts, even if it is not about a driving move on the grid, "While my racing days are behind me, my passion for anything with wheels will always remain. I’m proud to partner with Ford as their Global Racing Ambassador."
A well liked, hugely talented and richly experienced driver with eight GP wins on his resume, it is expected that Ricciardo's experience will hold Ford racing in good stead in the course of the future.
