Ricciardo opens door to racing return — with Verstappen at Le Mans?

Daniel Ricciardo has left the door open to a racing comeback, with a one-off appearance at the Le Mans 24 Hours alongside Max Verstappen among the possibilities that appeal to him. Speaking on F1’s Beyond The Grid podcast, the Australian explained that his attitude towards getting back behind the wheel has changed after a long period away from competition.

A return on his own terms

The eight-time Grand Prix winner has not raced since the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, when his spell with Racing Bulls ended and Liam Lawson took over his seat. That departure left Ricciardo with difficult feelings about the way his Formula 1 career had finished. A separate racing appearance could offer a more satisfying conclusion.

He is not describing an ambition to commit to another full championship. Instead, the attraction is an experience that would allow him to remove his helmet feeling happy and in control of his farewell. Time away has gradually made that possibility easier to imagine.

Why Le Mans appeals

Endurance racing offers a different relationship between team-mates. In Formula 1, the driver across the garage is also the most direct benchmark for individual performance. At Le Mans, drivers share a car and a result, exchanging information and helping each other keep the same machine competitive through an entire day and night.

That sense of cooperation appeals to Ricciardo at this stage of his life. A comeback in that setting would offer a fresh motivation, rather than a repeat of the constant internal competition he experienced throughout his Formula 1 career.

Verstappen is high on the list

Asked about possible partners, Ricciardo identified his former Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen as someone he would particularly like to share a car with. They raced together from 2016 until the end of 2018, before the Australian moved to Renault. Any reunion would carry considerable emotional appeal for supporters of that pairing.

An idea, rather than a confirmed programme

There is currently no confirmed Le Mans entry for Ricciardo, no specified year and no agreement with Verstappen. His comments express willingness to consider the opportunity, rather than an announcement of a racing programme. The significant development is that a driver who previously wanted to leave his helmet behind can now imagine a reason to put it on again.

Sources: F1 Beyond The Grid, Motorsport.com.