Could Cadillac offer Daniel Ricciardo another chance in Formula 1?
Daniel Ricciardo is a leading candidate to join the new Cadillac F1 team when it enters the world championship in 2026, according to some claims. However, it would appear that the Australian is not really interested in a return to F1.
The 35-year-old Australian driver was ousted from Red Bull and replaced by Liam Lawson, six races before the end of the 2024 season, as the Austrian team’s management was not convinced by his performances.
The departure of Daniel Ricciardo seemed to mark the end of his Formula 1 career, but a new report from Germany claims that the eight-time Grand Prix winner could be offered a new chance by Cadillac and General Motors.
The American brand has a provisional agreement with F1 to join the championship in 2026 as the 11th team, thereby adding two more seats on the grid. Although their entry has not yet been officially validated, it is considered a formality. Colton Herta, an IndyCar driver, is at the top of the list for a seat.
The German newspaper Bild reports that the Australian is the favorite for a seat within the American team. The report adds that Ricciardo’s return to Cadillac would propel the new team’s popularity from zero to 100.
A return to F1 for Ricciardo?
Although the name of the former Red Bull driver has been persistently mentioned in recent weeks, especially since the official announcement of the American team’s integration on November 25, ESPN reports that Daniel Ricciardo is not interested in a return to F1, according to several sources close to him.
The American media claims that close associates of the Australian driver have stated that he has not been contacted and is not interested in a seat at Cadillac. This position also seems confirmed outside the media. On the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), a video shows a user directly asking Daniel Ricciardo if he plans to join Cadillac in 2026. The Australian simply responds: No… it’s over, referring to his Formula 1 adventure.
Nevertheless, nothing is impossible. He has never specified which direction he would like to take his career after Formula 1. However, we know that he is a big fan of NASCAR, having admired Dale Earnhardt when he was younger.
As a reminder, Daniel Ricciardo began his career in 2011 with HRT, before joining Toro Rosso the following year, then Red Bull in 2014. He then moved to Renault in 2019, McLaren in 2021, and finally Racing Bulls in 2023.
