Rebranded Ford Racing Brings Daniel Ricciardo Along for the Ride

As of September 4, Ford Performance has been rebranded to Ford Racing, an identity which will follow the Blue Oval as their presence deepens in global motorsports. Along with this announcement, which comes just months before the group’s first major outings, was joined by today’s announcement: Daniel Ricciardo, former F1 driver and continuing motorsports enthusiast, will serve as a Ford Racing Ambassador.

As far as Ford is concerned, the rebrand “is not a marketing exercise. It’s a promise.” Press materials discuss how the brand’s global motorsports presence will not only grow, but further the development of Ford’s road-going performance vehicles. For example, lessons learned at the Baja 1000 will be applied to the next F-150 Raptor; Daytona and Le Mans will inform design decisions for the next Mustang.

Ford Racing has been previewed, but their real debut begins January 2026 with the Dakar Rally, Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance race, and their own “season launch event.” This rebranding also comes at the precipice of Ford’s efforts in F1, as they intend on providing powerplants for Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri, starting in the 2026 season, marking a return to F1 after a hiatus lasting more than two decades.

Despite retiring from his quotable career as a high-performance athlete in F1, Daniel Ricciardo didn’t sever his ties to motorsports altogether. According to the Australian driver, he “thought long and hard about finding the most authentic way to stay connected to the world of motorsports.” Recalling the time he purchased a Raptor pickup before a house in the U.S., and his affinity for Ford’s Raptor sub-brand of vehicles, becoming a Ford Racing ambassador would seem as authentic of a path as any, meeting with Ford in Dearborn after their Red Bull partnership was announced– befitting, as Ricciardo once drove for Red Bull in F1.

How exactly the Aussie will support and inform the decisions made by Ford Racing is yet to be seen, but here’s hoping we see the “Honey Badger” back in action, even if outside of the global racing challenges Ford has their sights on.