Ricciardo swaps cockpit for harmonica at surprise Austin gig ahead of US GP

Daniel Ricciardo traded the paddock for a stage in Austin, Texas, on Friday night, making a surprise appearance alongside American singer-songwriter Rob Baird at the Ford Racing and Enchanté pop-up ahead of the United States Grand Prix.

The former Formula 1 driver played harmonica on an original song he co-wrote with Baird during a road trip the pair took to Austin for the race weekend. A fan video of the performance posted on Instagram had gathered more than 7,000 likes shortly after it was shared.

The reaction from fans was warm and immediate. “This healed something in me,” one commenter wrote, while another added: “I’m sure he was either Bob Dylan’s brother or a cowboy in a previous life. We love you, Daniel.” A third summed up a broader sentiment: “At this point, no one cares about the race. Glad to see Daniel back, even if he’s not racing.”

Ricciardo and Baird arrived in Austin after driving from Ford’s Raptor Rally in Lake Havasu, Arizona — taking what Ricciardo described as “the lonnnng way” through desert backroads and swimming holes. The journey was tied to the launch of a new Enchanté fragrance collection called The Long Road, with products on sale at a pop-up at Distribution Hall in Austin alongside food, drinks, flash tattoos, and racing simulators.

The Australian was also spotted in the crowd supporting Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson, who headlined a separate Garage Sessions event at Inn Cahoots on East Sixth Street as part of Esses Bazaar ATX.

Ricciardo has been absent from the F1 grid since losing his Racing Bulls seat midway through the 2024 season, but his presence in Austin — both on stage and in the stands — underlined that he remains a popular figure in and around the paddock.