Daniel Ricciardo Swaps F1 Cockpit for Ford Raptor in Desert Rally

Daniel Ricciardo recently traded the asphalt of Formula 1 for the sand dunes of Arizona, participating in Ford's Raptor Rally as a brand ambassador. The eight-time Grand Prix winner got behind the wheel of an F-150 Raptor, embracing a new form of motorsport after his departure from F1 and enjoying the thrill of off-road competition.

Why it matters:

Ricciardo's post-F1 career moves are closely watched by fans, and this high-profile partnership with Ford signals his continued passion for all things motorsport, just on a different terrain. For Ford, leveraging the popularity of a globally recognized driver like Ricciardo is a strategic move to build a strong community around its performance vehicles and maintain a presence in the competitive landscape.

The details:

• The Australian driver took on several challenges in the Arizona desert, famously getting the powerful Raptor truck airborne over sand dunes.
• He described the experience as "pretty awesome" but also admitted to being "pretty scared" when taken for a ride by professional off-roaders, highlighting the intensity of the sport.
• Ricciardo was particularly impressed by the community aspect of the event, stating, "I think what’s made Raptor special is the people, and days like this, it’s really nice to be a part of that."

What's next:

Ricciardo has confirmed he has no immediate plans to return to Formula 1 after parting ways with the Racing Bulls team. Meanwhile, his iconic F1 race number 3 will see action again, with Max Verstappen set to use it starting in the 2026 season after relinquishing the number 1.