Daniel Ricciardo 'had offers from two racing series' before announcing retirement

Daniel Ricciardo reportedly passed up offers from IndyCar and NASCAR before announcing his retirement from motorsport. The Australian racer, who left the Formula One grid after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, confirmed that he has taken up a new role as ambassador for Ford Racing. Earlier this week, Ford announced that the Ford Performance branch, which encompasses the legendary American automotive manufacturer's motorsport ventures, has been rebranded to Ford Racing.

On Thursday, Ricciardo posed next to a Ford Racing-badged Raptor truck, teasing an announcement. Fans quickly got their resolution. On Friday, ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, the eight-time F1 Grand Prix winner announced his retirement from motorsport and a new partnership with Ford Racing, which will see him take on an active role in the Ford Raptor truck range.

"While my racing days are behind me, my love for anything with wheels will always remain high, and for that I am proud to be partnering with Ford to become a Global Ford Racing Ambassador," the 36-year-old wrote in an open letter.

"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. So why now and why me?

"When I decided it was time to retire, I thought long and hard about finding the most authentic way to stay connected to the world of motorsports. For me, racing was always about having fun. It made me happy and created memories that will last a lifetime."

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According to a report from ESPN, Ricciardo wasn't short on offers when he was dropped by VCARB (now Racing Bulls) in Singapore last year. The Perth-born racer had contact with teams in both IndyCar and NASCAR, but opted not to explore these avenues.

Ricciardo's aversion to IndyCar oval racing has been public knowledge for some time, but the decision to pass up the opportunity to race in NASCAR will come as a surprise to some fans. Cup Series legend Dale Earnhardt was the inspiration behind the Australian's use of the number three in F1, and he has often cited the series as a key pillar of his love for motorsport.

Fellow F1 stars Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen both appeared in America's premier stock-car racing series after dropping off the grid, but Ricciardo has no plans to follow in their footsteps. The Honey Badger is, for now, setting aside his helmet and gloves.