Red Bull chief teases Daniel Ricciardo F1 paddock return after Ford ambassadorship

Red Bull team chief Laurent Mekies has teased a potential return to the Formula 1 paddock for Daniel Ricciardo.

The Australian driver was announced as a global Ford Racing ambassador last week. While he confirmed that his racing days were behind him, F1 fans may still see Ricciardo around the F1 paddock due to Ford's collaboration with Red Bull Powertrains from 2026.

During an interview with Sky Sports F1, Mekies explained that it was a "great feeling" to have Ricciardo back in the Red Bull family.

"I think you are quoting the right word. It's a family feeling to see Daniel getting back with Ford Racing as part of this adventure," he said.

"It's a great feeling. I think it's one of the many examples in which we see how many connection points we have between our two companies, between the two projects. So it's very exciting.

"I'm sure everybody will love to see Daniel back in the paddock, and we are going to perhaps have that sometimes thanks to Ford Racing."

"Daniel is a unique person we all know," Ford CEO Jim Farley added. "But he also brings a real passion for off-road to a lot of mainstream customers who may not think about off-road."

Daniel Ricciardo Global Ford Racing Ambassador (1)

Ricciardo left F1 racing after losing his Racing Bulls (then VCARB) seat to Liam Lawson following the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, bringing an end to his 14-year career. After taking some time away from the championship, the 36-year-old confirmed in his announcement with Ford that he had retired from racing.

"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 to become a global Ford Racing ambassador," he explained.

"I am going to be working closely with the Ford Racing team and specifically focus on the amazing Raptor brand and lifestyle that Raptor has become for many of Ford's customers.

"So why now and why me? 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."