Daniel Ricciardo’s done with Formula 1. Eight wins across 257 races. One McLaren victory at Monza in 2021 before everything fell apart. Singapore 2024 marked his final F1 appearance before Liam Lawson took his Racing Bulls seat. Now the Australian’s launching trucks into Arizona desert air whilst calling it a “fresh start.” Because nothing says moving on quite like becoming Ford’s global racing ambassador and teasing entries into off-road competitions nobody asked about, does it?
The 36-year-old spent December at Lake Havasu for Ford’s Raptor Rally. Sunset drives. Massive jumps. Cold beverages in the pool afterwards. He even got airborne in Ford’s Dakar rally car, the T1+ monster that races across sand dunes whilst F1 cars navigate street circuits. One marshal reckoned his jump was “double what anyone has done all day.” Brilliant achievement for someone whose F1 career ended watching from the sidelines whilst Max Verstappen nearly won another championship.
When Your Ego Makes You Jump Twice
Ricciardo admits his first jump wasn’t enough. His ego demanded another attempt. Because launching a Ford Raptor R into the air once just doesn’t satisfy someone who spent years chasing podiums in Formula 1, apparently. The second jump sent him properly flying, both driver and co-driver laughing hysterically as they landed.
“Unfortunately, a little bit of ego overtook me, and I wasn’t happy with the first one. So, we went real big. That felt big. That was so fun.” – Daniel Ricciardo
That’s the Daniel everyone remembers. Never satisfied with good enough. Always pushing for something spectacular. Except in F1 from 2021 onwards, where spectacular mostly meant spectacularly disappointing. His McLaren stint delivered one victory then collapsed into mediocrity. The Racing Bulls return in 2024 offered redemption that never materialised.
Now he’s jumping trucks in Arizona whilst professional off-road drivers show him how it’s actually done. He rode passenger with Lauren and Mitch, admitting he was “pretty scared” but enjoying the experience. Fair play to him for embracing something completely different. Better than lingering around F1 paddocks pretending retirement doesn’t sting.
The Baja 1,000 “Itch” Nobody’s Scratching Yet
Here’s the properly entertaining element. Ricciardo’s now teasing a potential Baja 1,000 entry. The legendary off-road endurance race through Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. One thousand miles of desert, rocks, and chaos. Fernando Alonso famously rolled his Toyota Hilux during the 2020 Dakar Rally, finishing 13th after his two-year F1 sabbatical. Perhaps Ricciardo fancies similar adventures?
“The itch for Baja is there, but I’ve got a lot to learn. A few more of these events and then ask me next year and we’ll see where I’m at.” – Daniel Ricciardo
Translation? He’s considering it but won’t commit because actually entering requires serious preparation and he’s still figuring out whether jumping trucks occasionally constitutes proper motorsport involvement. The Baja 1,000 demands navigation skills, mechanical knowledge, and endurance that’s utterly different from F1’s two-hour sprints.
But the “itch” exists. That’s the competitive drive that never fully disappears. Ricciardo spent 13 years racing at F1’s highest level. Retirement doesn’t switch off the instinct to compete, to prove yourself, to chase something challenging. Off-road racing provides that outlet without the political nonsense and corporate pressure that dominated his final F1 seasons.
The Ford Partnership That Actually Makes Sense
Ricciardo’s Ford ambassadorship arrived in September 2025. Perfect timing considering Ford supplies power units to Red Bull Racing from 2026 onwards. His connections with Red Bull management, his American fanbase from racing in Austin and Miami, and his genuine enthusiasm for Ford’s performance vehicles make this partnership far more authentic than most driver endorsement deals.
He’s not just posing for photoshoots. The man’s actually driving the machinery, testing its limits, and enjoying the freedom that comes without championship pressure. No team principals criticising radio messages. No engineers analysing every braking point. Just desert trails, spectacular jumps, and community events with fellow Raptor enthusiasts.
“For me, it’s all about having fun. That’s always been my approach. In my racing career, I think people related to me because they saw how much joy I brought to it and the competitive side was almost secondary.” – Daniel Ricciardo
Fair assessment from someone whose infectious personality made him one of F1’s most popular drivers despite never challenging for championships. His overtakes were audacious. His celebrations were memorable. The smile was genuine even when results disappointed. That joy attracted fans who appreciated watching someone visibly love their job.
The Ginetta Junior Scholarship Nobody Mentioned
Whilst everyone’s focused on desert adventures, Ricciardo quietly launched an initiative to help young drivers enter car racing. He’s selecting two teenagers aged 14-17 for a Ginetta Junior Scholarship assessment. Fitness tests, media training, driving performance, racecraft evaluation. The winner receives a fully funded drive in the 2027 Ginetta Junior Championship.
That’s proper contribution to motorsport’s grassroots level. The Ginetta Junior Championship supports the British Touring Car Championship, giving young drivers visibility and experience in competitive racing. Ricciardo’s providing opportunities he received when progressing through junior categories. Not just corporate partnerships and desert rallies, but genuine investment in the next generation.
When “Fresh Starts” Mean Avoiding the Paddock
Here’s the uncomfortable truth behind Ricciardo’s desert therapy. He’s staying as far from F1 as possible because returning would be properly awkward. Watching Lawson race the seat he lost. Seeing Verstappen fight for championships without him. Observing Isack Hadjar step up to Red Bull Racing in 2026 whilst Racing Bulls operates with Lawson and Arvid Lindblad.
Off-road rallies provide distance. A completely different motorsport universe where F1’s politics and disappointments don’t exist. Where jumping trucks matters more than quali simulations. Where community replaces corporate hierarchies. It’s escapism disguised as ambassadorship, and honestly? Good for him.
The Baja 1,000 remains theoretical. Just an “itch” that might never get scratched properly. But whether Ricciardo enters that race or sticks with occasional Raptor Rally appearances, he’s found something beyond F1. That’s more than many retired drivers achieve whilst haunting paddocks and commentary boxes, desperately clinging to relevance in a sport that’s moved on without them.
