Daniel Ricciardo has been linked with F1’s newest team
Ricciardo has responded to reports of Cadillac debut
Speculation has been swirling over West Aussie’s future
Speculation continues to swirl around the future of eight-time race winner Daniel Ricciardo – but the unemployed Aussie has ruled out returning to F1 to drive for Cadillac.
The ever-charismatic Ricciardo is yet to reveal much of his plans for the future and whether we’ll see him behind the wheel of a racing car again.
The 35-year-old endured an indifferent season with VCARB, with his highest finish coming in Canada where he came eighth in the leaderboard.
Unfortunately, his poor form would ultimately lead to his axing, with an emotional Ricciardo being sacked by the Italian-based Formula One team following his 18th-placed finish at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Since then, some F1 fans have been having a difficult time accepting that Ricciardo’s Formula One career might be over, while others have speculated that the introduction of new American team Cadillac for 2025 could offer the Aussie a way back into the premier motorsport circuit.
However, ESPN reported on Saturday that Ricciardo ‘has not been contacted and he has no interest’ in returning to F1 with the new team.
It comes after rumblings last week that Ricciardo could be lured to join another racing outfit, who could use their huge cash reserves to snap up the ex-Red Bull star.
According to Race.News, Japanese car manufacturer Toyota have been eyeing up a shock move to land the Aussie star and hand him a ‘headline motorsport role’ in Australia or the USA.
Sources close to the outlet claim that Toyota see Riccardo’s value as a driver but also someone who can drastically help improve the brand’s exposure.
‘I’ve been told that Toyoda-san can see his (Ricciardo) value, not just as a driver, but as someone who can drag in the fans in huge numbers because of his natural charisma,’ the Toyota source said to Race.News.
It’s not yet clear if any offer has been tabled or will be but Ricciardo could drive one of Toyota’s GR Supra’s in 2026 or join up with its NASCAR side Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Thanks in part to his role in Netflix’s Drive To Survive, Ricciardo’s stock has rocketed in recent years and he is by far one of the most popular names in motorsport.
And according to the outlet, the instructions to land the Aussie star came from Akio Toyoda, the chairman of Toyota.
‘He (Toyoda) can’t see any downside with having him as the face of Gazoo Racing which really is his pet project,’ the Toyota source told the outlet.
‘And, from what has been told to me, it’s almost a blank cheque operation to get him to say yes.’
Race.News added that a ballpark figure could sit at around $10million.
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