On Thursday, Red Bull will unveil its new car to the world, which will then take to the track during the Barcelona tests at the end of January.
According to the latest reports, Max Verstappen will be reunited with a former teammate at the Detroit event after a long time apart. Daniel Ricciardo will in fact be among the guests attending the launch.
Since leaving Formula 1 in 2024, the Australian has kept a relatively low profile. Last September, after confirming his retirement from racing, he announced that he had become a global ambassador for Ford Racing, the brand that from 2026 will partner with the Milton Keynes team in the development of the new power unit.
Formula 1 fans will now have a rare opportunity to see the Australian at Red Bull’s launch event, which is scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm local time. For Italian viewers, this corresponds to 4:00 am on Friday morning.
According to Ford, in addition to Ricciardo, other special guests at the event will include three-time NASCAR champion Joey Logano and five-time Formula Drift champion James Deane.
The reunion of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo in Detroit serves as a nostalgic nod to one of Red Bull’s most iconic driver pairings, even as the team pivots toward its high-tech future with Ford. While Ricciardo’s role is now focused on brand ambassadorship rather than on-track performance, his presence at the launch adds a layer of star power that perfectly complements the “American” theme of the event. As the 2026 season approaches, seeing these two back together—even if only for a presentation—reminds the F1 fans of the deep history behind the team as it embarks on its most ambitious engine project yet.
Leave a Reply