Daniel Ricciardo confirms racing retirement, joins Ford as racing ambassador

Australian Formula One star Daniel Ricciardo has confirmed on Friday, September 6 that his F1 racing career has indeed come to an end. However, he also revealed that he will now be taking up a new ambassadorial role with Ford.

The 36-year-old, one of the most popular drivers of his era, announced he will become a Global Ford Racing Ambassador, a position that keeps him tied to motorsport without returning to competitive action.

“While my racing days are behind me, my love for anything with wheels will always remain high and for that I am proud to be partnering with Ford,” Ricciardo wrote in a blog post for Ford Racing. “When I decided it was time to retire, I thought long and hard about finding the most authentic way to stay connected to the world of motorsports. For me, racing was always about having fun. It made me happy and created memories that will last a lifetime.”

Ford will return to Formula One next season as an engine partner for Red Bull, Ricciardo’s former team where he claimed seven of his eight career wins. The announcement was timed with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, a circuit that holds special memories for Ricciardo after his 2021 victory with McLaren.

Ricciardo made 257 career starts in Formula One, collecting eight wins, 32 podiums, three pole positions and more than 1,300 points across spells with HRT, Toro Rosso (later AlphaTauri/RB), Red Bull, Renault and McLaren. His final appearances came in 2024 with Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s junior team.

Beyond his achievements on track, Ricciardo became a global fan favourite, renowned for his charisma, trademark smile, and starring role in the first season of Netflix’s hit documentary Drive to Survive, which helped propel Formula One into new markets.

While speculation over his long-term future had been ongoing since his struggles in the latter half of his career, Ricciardo’s latest announcement is the clearest indication yet that he will not return to competitive racing.

For fans, it marks the end of an era, though Ricciardo insists his new chapter with Ford will ensure he remains close to the sport that defined him.