- Ricciardo to attend Indy500 race on May 24, 2026.
- He reveals what sparked this idea to return to paddock.
- Ricciardo earlier revealed that he won’t do motor racing ever in future.
Daniel Ricciardo will be back in the paddock later this month, not for F1, but rather for the Indy500 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He won’t be racing there, but will be present as a fan to enjoy the incredible speed, tense atmosphere, and thrilling moments.
Formula 1 fans have dearly missed the Honey Badger, who was last seen on the grid at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, his final race in the sport with Racing Bulls. Liam Lawson replaced the Australian following a series of inconsistent performances, while teammate Yuki Tsunoda continued to outperform him.
Even after his exit, fans desperately wanted him to return, as they believed he deserved a second chance. Earlier, many rumours also linked him to the new team on the grid, Cadillac, with many believing that they could sign him. But Ricciardo eventually debunked the speculations and made it clear that he’s done with F1. Moreover, he has also given up on motor racing in future.
Ricciardo reflects on Indy 500 appearance
In a conversation with Conor Daly’s Speed Street podcast, Ricciardo revealed that after hearing what Daly has to say about the series, he has never been more excited since a kid to go and attend a race, enjoying it just like a fan. “To experience it in the way you speak about it, you’ve done the European thing, you’ve travelled the world racing. This sounds like… I think it’s going to really hit me hard. I’m excited to be a fan,” he elaborated.
Moreover, he revealed how the idea of the Indy 500 materialised. He mentioned that a conversation sparked around how to get Daly more involved in the racing world. Then, he spoke with his father, who always wanted to do and attend this race. So, he got hit by the idea that maybe they should do the Indy 500 in 2026. The Indy 500 takes place on May 24, 2026, the same day as the Canadian Grand Prix.
A goodbye to motor racing but love remains
Ricciardo confirmed that he won’t ever return to motor racing when he was branded the ambassador for Ford Racing last year. He revealed that though he won’t go behind the wheel to compete, but would always be passionate about racing and expressed enthusiasm for his new collaboration. Disclosing his plans with Ford, he added, “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.”
He revealed that the reason he accepted this collaboration was because he wanted to stay close to the motorsports and this offer aptly aligned with his that vision. “For me, racing was always about having fun. It made me happy and created memories that will last a lifetime,” he elaborated referring to his passion for racing.
