Daniel Ricciardo Confirms Retirement, Joins Ford Racing as Ambassador

Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian Formula 1 driver with eight Grand Prix victories, has officially retired from racing and taken on a new role as Global Ford Racing Ambassador. His partnership with Ford will focus primarily on the Raptor brand, a vehicle line he has admired since purchasing one in 2017. Ricciardo expressed enthusiasm about working with Ford Racing, highlighting the company's long-standing motorsport heritage and innovation, and praised the passion of Ford employees during his visits to their facilities. This new role comes as Ford prepares to enter Formula 1 through a collaboration with Red Bull ahead of the 2026 rule changes. Ricciardo had a varied F1 career, racing for teams like Red Bull, McLaren, and Renault, and had been a reserve driver for Red Bull in 2023 before deciding to retire. His transition to Ford Racing marks a new chapter focused on leveraging motorsport experience to support Ford's performance vehicle initiatives and lifestyle branding.