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Ricciardo hints at F1 paddock return during Ford Raptor road trip to Austin GP

Daniel Ricciardo is driving from Ford's Raptor Rally in Lake Havasu, Arizona, to the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and has hinted he may return to the F1 paddock during race week.

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Ricciardo hints at F1 paddock return during Ford Raptor road trip to Austin GP
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Daniel Ricciardo is making his way back to the Formula 1 paddock — at least informally — by embarking on a cross-country road trip from Ford’s Raptor Rally in Lake Havasu, Arizona, to the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, this week. The former Red Bull and AlphaTauri driver hinted at a paddock appearance in Austin, where he has served as a Ford Racing global ambassador since leaving the grid in 2024.

Ford Racing and Ricciardo’s lifestyle brand Enchanté announced his involvement in the Raptor Rally through a joint Instagram post. “Raptor Rally, you ready? We’re rolling out with Daniel Ricciardo to hit the trails. See you out there!” the caption read. The third edition of the event drew more than 1,000 guests and 450 trucks to the Arizona desert, featuring off-road trails, Baja loops, hot laps with professional drivers, and the inaugural Raptor Baja Sprint competition. Drivers including Loren Healy, Brad Lovell, Vaughn Gittin Jr, and Mitch Guthrie Jr were also on the line-up.

Once the rally wrapped, Ricciardo and country singer Rob Baird set off on what he described as the scenic route to Texas. “Last night we kicked things off in Lake Havasu at the Ford Raptor Rally, and in a couple of days we’re taking the long way to Austin. And I mean the lonnnng way. Desert, backroads, swimming holes, all of it. Not gonna lie, I can’t wait,” Ricciardo wrote in a note to Enchanté subscribers.

The trip culminates with an Enchanté and Ford Racing pop-up at Distribution Hall, 1500 East 4th Street in Austin, running from 22 to 25 October — overlapping with the United States Grand Prix weekend.

Since stepping away from F1 competition, Ricciardo has embedded himself in Ford’s motorsport operation in several capacities. He has visited Ford’s global facilities, fronted the Raptor brand in marketing campaigns, competed in events with the Ford Raptor T1+, and appeared at Red Bull’s F1 car reveal as part of the team’s new power unit partnership with Ford. The Austin trip represents his most prominent return to the F1 calendar since his departure, even if his role remains off the grid for now.

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