Ford’s Ambitious Motorsport Vision for Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo

Ford wants to turn its Red Bull Formula 1 partnership into something bigger, with ambitions to bring Max Verstappen into its sportscar programme and keep Daniel Ricciardo involved across its wider racing universe.

Ford’s return to the centre of Formula 1 through Red Bull Powertrains was never meant to be a quiet technical badge on an engine cover. The American manufacturer is building a much wider motorsport strategy — and two familiar names sit at the heart of its dream scenario: Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.

Ford Racing global director Mark Rushbrook has made clear that the company would like Verstappen to one day sample its sportscar programme, while also teasing that Ricciardo could be tempted into one of Ford’s off-road projects. It is not a confirmed racing entry, but it is a revealing sign of how Ford sees its F1 partnership: as a gateway into a larger racing ecosystem.

A Dream Built Around Verstappen

Verstappen has never hidden his interest in racing beyond Formula 1. Endurance racing, GT competition and simulator events all fit his wider identity as a pure racer, not simply an F1 driver. That makes Ford’s interest logical.

The idea of Verstappen racing a Ford sportscar would be commercially powerful and technically credible. It would connect one of the most recognisable drivers in the world with a manufacturer trying to make its motorsport portfolio feel modern, global and emotionally engaging.

Ford’s dream is not just about putting Verstappen in another car. It is about using his racing identity to connect Formula 1, endurance racing and Ford’s broader performance brand. F1LiveUpdates analysis

Why Ricciardo Still Matters

Ricciardo’s role is different but equally valuable. After stepping away from professional racing, the Australian became a global ambassador for Ford Racing in 2025. That move kept him connected to the motorsport world while allowing Ford to benefit from one of F1’s most marketable personalities.

Ricciardo brings charm, familiarity and a natural connection with Red Bull’s recent history. His past partnership with Verstappen remains one of the most popular driver pairings of the modern era, and Ford clearly understands the emotional value of that link.

From Formula 1 to Sportscars and Off-Road

Ford’s motorsport footprint is deliberately broad. Its Red Bull F1 partnership gives it visibility at the top of global single-seater racing, while its sportscar ambitions and off-road programmes allow it to speak to different audiences.

That is why Verstappen and Ricciardo make sense in different ways. Verstappen could give Ford’s sportscar programme instant competitive and media credibility. Ricciardo, meanwhile, could fit naturally into off-road, demonstration or brand-led projects that blend racing with entertainment.

• Verstappen has strong interest in racing beyond Formula 1.
• Ford wants to use its Red Bull partnership beyond F1 branding alone.
• Ricciardo became a Ford Racing global ambassador in 2025.
• Ford has teased possible off-road involvement for Ricciardo.
• A Verstappen-Ford sportscar link would be a major marketing asset.

Why Red Bull Is the Perfect Bridge

Ford’s partnership with Red Bull Powertrains creates the connection that makes this dream feel plausible. Verstappen is Red Bull’s central figure, while Ricciardo’s history with the team and his Ford ambassador role provide an easy narrative bridge.

The relationship has already produced fan-friendly content, including Verstappen sampling Ford racing machinery and Ricciardo appearing in Ford-linked motorsport projects. Those moments may look light-hearted, but they are part of a larger brand-building strategy.

Ford is using Red Bull not only as an F1 engine partner, but as a cultural amplifier for its entire racing identity. F1LiveUpdates analysis

Not a Confirmed Race Plan — Yet

It is important to separate ambition from confirmation. Ford has not announced a formal Verstappen sportscar entry, nor has Ricciardo committed to a competitive off-road racing programme. At this stage, the plan is best understood as a dream scenario that Ford would love to make real if the timing, contracts and driver interest align.

That caveat matters because Verstappen’s primary focus remains Formula 1, and any additional racing would need to fit around Red Bull’s priorities, commercial agreements and risk management. For Ricciardo, the question is whether Ford can tempt him back into competition after he said his racing days were behind him.

Why This Matters for Ford’s F1 Return

Ford’s return to F1 with Red Bull is about more than technical involvement in a power unit. The company is trying to make motorsport feel central to its global performance identity again.

In that context, Verstappen and Ricciardo are powerful assets. Verstappen represents peak competitive credibility. Ricciardo represents personality, nostalgia and broad fan appeal. Together, they could help Ford connect its F1 project with sportscars, off-road racing and lifestyle-led performance marketing.

A Dream Worth Watching

Whether Ford’s dream becomes a real race programme remains uncertain. But the ambition itself is significant. It shows that manufacturers increasingly view Formula 1 not as a standalone platform, but as the centrepiece of a larger motorsport and entertainment ecosystem.

If Ford can one day put Verstappen into one of its sportscars — and tempt Ricciardo into a complementary racing or off-road project — it would create one of the most marketable motorsport stories of the decade.

For now, it remains a dream. But in Ford’s new racing era, it is a dream with a very clear purpose.