Daniel Ricciardo may have closed the door on Formula 1, but it’s starting to sound suspiciously like he’s left a window wide open somewhere far dustier – and a lot louder.
The ever-popular Australian, who stepped away from F1 just during the closing stages of the 2024 season, has dropped his strongest hint yet that competitive racing could still be part of his future.
The twist? It wouldn’t involve carbon fibre, downforce or street circuits – but desert jumps, off-road trucks and one of motorsport’s wildest endurance tests: the Baja 1,000.
From Hairpins to High-Speed Jumps
Ricciardo, now a global racing ambassador for Ford, recently took part in the Raptor Rally at Lake Havasu in Arizona, sampling high-speed desert runs and rally-style jumps in Ford’s off-road machinery. And judging by his reaction, the experience struck a familiar nerve.
Asked to compare threading an F1 car through the tight confines of Monaco with launching a Ford Raptor skyward, Ricciardo didn’t hesitate.
“Monaco is incredible, but today’s jump was incredible,” he said.
“I was in the T1+ and Mitch [co-driver] gave me the fright of my life! I definitely got more than I bargained for, but it was freaking awesome.”
That adrenaline hit has clearly lingered. Ricciardo openly acknowledged that the idea of tackling the legendary Baja 1,000 – a brutal, thousand-mile off-road endurance race – is already circling in his mind.
“The itch for Baja is there, but I’ve got a lot to learn,” he admitted. “A few more of these events and then ask me next year and we’ll see where I’m at!”
A Fresh Start, Same Ricciardo Spirit
Ricciardo officially announced his retirement from Formula 1 in September, bringing the curtain down on a career that delivered eight Grand Prix victories across 257 starts, including his final triumph with McLaren at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.
His last F1 outing came at the Singapore Grand Prix in 2024, before being replaced by Liam Lawson for the season’s final races at Racing Bulls.
Yet stepping away from F1 hasn’t dulled the core motivation that defined his career.
“For me, it’s all about having fun. That’s always been my approach,” Ricciardo explained.
“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.”
Read also: Ricciardo calls time on racing, joins Ford as Global AmbassadorThat philosophy, he says, hasn’t changed – only the playground has.
“I just wanted to enjoy it. I’m taking the same approach with this new role. It’s a completely fresh start.”
For now, Ricciardo insists there’s no rush and plenty to learn before committing to something as unforgiving as the Baja 1,000. But between the smiles, the jumps and that unmistakable “itch,” it’s hard to ignore the direction of travel.
Formula 1 may be in the rear-view mirror – but if Ricciardo does return to racing, don’t expect it to be subtle, predictable or anything less than spectacularly sideways.
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