Daniel Ricciardo joins Ford Racing

On the same day that ‘Ford Racing’ was launched, replacing Ford Performance, the new division that combines Ford’s motorsport and fast road car operations into one unit also announced the signing of Daniel Ricciardo as a ‘Global Ford Racing Ambassador’.

Although he has now officially retired from racing, Ricciardo says he still wanted to stay connected with motorsport in an “authentic way”. The ambassadorial role with Ford Racing will do that, while also providing the sense of fun that has permeated Ricciardo’s personality and professional career.

“I am proud to be partnering with Ford to become a Global Ford Racing Ambassador,” Ricciardo said in a statement. “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.”

Ricciardo’s connection to the Raptor isn’t a new thing, and dates back to 2017, when he purchased an F-150 Raptor. Soon after that, Ford’s connection to the Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 team that Ricciardo drove for at the time allowed behind the scenes access to Ford operations at Dearborn and Cologne.

“Throughout all these occasions, Ford and its employees’ passion for motorsports was very apparent,” Ricciardo added. “But what excites me most is how [Ford] continue to find ways of having fun while innovating.

“Ford has built a proper business around motorsport and is using it to bring new technologies to your road cars. And nothing brings that to life better than the beloved Raptor.

“I couldn’t be more excited for all the amazing drives ahead with Ford, and for all the incredible projects Ford Racing has in its pipeline. From F1 to Dakar. and from Le Mans to Bathurst.”

Ford Racing is managed by Will Ford, the great-great-grandson of Henry Ford. He says that Ford Racing will apply technology used in the Baja 1000 to the next F-150 Raptor, while aerodynamic lessons learnt at Daytona and Le Mans will be sculpted into the next Mustang.

Ford says that the first production vehicle from Ford Racing will launch in January, 2026.