- Toyota executives are preparing to lure Daniel Ricciardo into the world of V8 Supercars with a contract that’ll likely make him the highest-paid driver in the motorsport’s history.
- This would align with the Japanese automaker’s Supercars Championship debut scheduled for 2026.
- Another speculated pathway for Ricciardo’s professional racing return is the Toyota Gazoo Racing team in NASCAR.
Months after Daniel Ricciardo was unceremoniously ousted from Red Bull’s VCARB F1 Team to make way for Kiwi rookie Liam Lawson, the 35-year-old Aussie talent has been linked to Toyota’s V8 Supercars outfit.
According to Race News, a former senior executive of the automaking giant has stated it’s prepared to offer the eight-time Grand Prix winner “whatever it takes” to sign him as a driver. Aside from Supercars, the other front-running option is the Toyota Gazoo Racing team in NASCAR.
The reports come following a closed-door meeting chaired by Akio Toyoda, chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, where discussions regarding Ricciardo took place. It’s understood that Toyoda believes the Formula 1 fan favourite should become the new face of Toyota’s racing team.
“I’ve been told that Toyoda-san can see his [Ricciardo] value, not just as a driver, but as someone who can drag in the fans in huge numbers because of his natural charisma,” the unnamed source told Race News.
The source added: “He [Toyoda] can’t see any downside with having him as the face of Gazoo Racing which really is his pet project. And, from what has been told to me, it’s almost a blank cheque operation to get him to say yes.”
2026 is when Toyota officially enters Supercars with its GR Supra, meaning it could be just under a year before we see our homegrown hero conquering the Bathurst mountain track. Though another crucial factor has recently been presented vis-à-vis Daniel Ricciardo’s career…
Last week, Formula 1 reached an “agreement in principle” with General Motors and TWG Global to bring an 11th team to the grid in 2026, and with it, two more seats.
While there have been no formal discussions about who the GM/Cadillac-branded team will tap to pilot their race rigs, pundits have noted that Ricciardo — a personality beloved by Americans; and a grid veteran whose ultimate commodity to a new team is his experience — may be the perfect candidate.
Let’s see how this one plays out.
