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- Daniel Ricciardo becomes Global Ford Racing ambassador.
- CEO Jim Farley envisions Ford as the “Porsche of off-road.”
- Rumours swirl about a $300,000 hybrid-powered off-road supercar project.
- Ricciardo’s passion for Ford Raptors strengthens speculation around potential collaboration.
Daniel Ricciardo, a Ford Bronco Raptor, Red Bull Racing, Ford CEO Jim Farley, Formula 1—the motorsport stars aligned long before Danny Ric’s cryptic Instagram post. Now, in an update, the honey badger has officially announced that he will 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,” in a blog post released to the media.
We don’t want to say “we told you so,” but we called it early. The now-retired Formula 1 driver posted a photo of himself standing next to a Ford Racing logo affixed to the front of a Bronco Raptor, promptly sending the internet into a frenzy. While most were focused on the clear connection between Ford and Red Bull Racing—having partnered to develop the next-generation Formula 1 power unit for 2026—the Ford Bronco Raptor that Daniel Ricciardo was posing with had our attention.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has previously stated that he wanted Ford to become the “Porsche of off-road,” and now we know that Daniel Ricciardo is the man who will do it.
CEO Jim Farley Wants Ford to Become the ‘Porsche of Off-Road’
“There’s no Porsche of off-road, and I’m shocked that people don’t think about that, and I’m very interested in that,” said Farley on Bloomberg’s Hot Pursuit! Podcast a few weeks ago before mulling the idea of a $300,000 off-road supercar.
“I feel like the supercar market is completely overserved,” continued Farley. “People are just buying these cars to invest as if it’s a stock.”
“I’m more excited about what we’re working (on) off-road than I am on-road,” he commented before explaining that he’d like any project to be powered by a 1,000 HP (746kW) hybrid powertrain with customisable driver settings, full height-adjustable suspension height and damping, and other racing specifications that would lend it towards a Baja-style racing truck than a low-speed rock crawler.
When the podcast hosts asked whether the future model could adapt to the existing Mustang or Bronco, Farley stayed silent but shook his head at the mention.
While no concrete announcements were made on the podcast either, Farley closed the conversation by saying, “I’m thinking about it, and I’m thinking really deeply about it, and usually that turns into something. That’s all I can say.”
How Daniel Ricciardo Will Make That Dream a Reality
The idea of a Ford off-road supercar is one thing, and Daniel Ricciardo fuelled these conversations last week when he hinted at his involvement with this rumoured project, posing next to a Ford Bronco Raptor on his social media with a caption saying, “More around the corner…”.
Years ago, Ricciardo expressed his love for Ford’s Raptor off-road sub-division, calling it “maybe the coolest car I’ve ever owned,” in an interview with The Drive. Now, his wish has been granted as he reveals his partnership with Ford Racing, more specifically, Raptor, in a blog post.
“I wanted to write you all a quick note to coincide with some exciting news,” said Ricciardo in the post. “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. 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.
“I was thinking back to my core memories with Ford. First, when I purchased a Raptor back in 2017 before I even owned a home in the US. Priorities, am I right? Then, shortly after Ford announced it was partnering with Oracle Red Bull Racing, I came over to Dearborn and met senior leaders like Jim Farley (we had a ton of fun and a lot of laughs), but also had the chance to peek behind the curtain and see what was happening within your design department. Damn impressive. I then visited the team in Cologne later that summer and had a great time meeting employees, watching a live crash test and answering questions in a Town Hall.
“Throughout all these occasions, Ford and its employees’ passion for motorsports was very apparent. But what excites me most is how you all continue to find ways of having fun while innovating. Ford has built a proper business around motorsport and is using it to bring new technologies to your road cars. And nothing brings that to life better than the beloved, Raptor.
“Taking my bias for “American-made” and deep love for trucks out of the equation, Raptor is becoming a global powerhouse. I’m one of thousands of happy customers. Some of my favourite memories are road tripping behind the wheel of my Raptor, and I can’t wait to add to my existing Raptor ownership, plus meet the customers who are equally passionate about their vehicles.
“I couldn’t be more excited for all the amazing drives ahead with Ford and for all the incredible projects Ford Racing has in its pipeline. From F1, to Dakar and from Le Mans to Bathurst, few companies have been at this for as long as you guys have. And from what I have seen, we have an incredible future ahead and I am so proud to be joining the team.
“So, here’s to the fun, the laughs and memories that lie ahead,” he concludes.
With the Mustang GTD, the brand has proven that it can conquer the toughest road course in the world, the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Now Ford Racing can shift focus elsewhere, particularly into a space that has only briefly been occupied by the Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato.
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